THERE has been praise for Crediton firefighters who undertook three different rescues of people from floods which hit the Crediton area on Wednesday, October 16.

At about 11am firefighters carried a child to safety and walked two adults from a car stuck in floods on the road from Crediton to Sandford.

The James family, from Copplestone, were stranded in their car in the flood.

Mrs James said: “We are very wet. Our car stopped in the water and while we sat there it rose and rose.

“We ended up sat in the water in the car.”

Crediton Station Manager Neil Hargreaves, speaking from the scene, explained that: “We were able to get to the car and walk the adults to safety.

“One of the crew carried the child to safety.”

Firefighters wore water rescue suits and used wading poles to reach the vehicle.

The family was unhurt and was taken home by Courtney’s Garage at Copplestone.

At 12.30pm the crew helped rescue a driver from their vehicle, stuck in about 3ft (90cm) of flood water at Salmonhutch, Crediton.

The person was taken to a place of safety.

Later, at about 1.55pm, the crew attended another report of a vehicle stuck in about 3ft of flood water and helped the driver to safety, also in Crediton Hamlets.

In total the crew rescued five people from the Crediton area floods.

More rain is expected on Friday, October 18 and on Sunday, October 20.