A WOMAN who died after her car was swept away in a flooded North York Moors stream took “a calculated risk” which many others would have done, according to a coroner.

Speaking after recording a verdict of accidental death, North Yorkshire East Coroner, Michael Oakley, said the force of the swollen Hartoft Beck swept away 53-year-old Vanessa Robson’s Land Rover as she tried to cross to the two holiday homes she and her husband owned near Rosedale Abbey.

He has now written to the Highways Agency calling for warnings at the crossing where the tragedy happened. He said: “The Highways Agency owns the road down to the ford and people will know the existence of the beck, but it leads to two holiday cottages.

“The car was swept away by the extreme force of the water. Her husband did indicate she was not the type of person to take risks. Like all of us she might have taken a calculated risk.”

Mrs Robson, who lived with her family on a large farm in Beverley, died in February at the remote beauty spot following days of heavy rain and snow.

After she drove her Land Rover into the swollen stream it was swept away, finally coming to rest on its side 200 metres away at Muffles Bridge.

The alarm was raised by a passer-by who saw the vehicle partly submerged at about 12.20pm, but it was four hours before her body was found.

Her body was pulled from the stream following a huge rescue operation mounted by police, coastguards, fire crews and a Sea King helicopter from RAF Leconfield. She left behind her husband, Ian, and sons Thomas, Harry and Jack.

At the time locals described the beck as being in full flow and said they would have not ventured across it.

Firefighters were unable to launch their rescue boats because of the severe conditions.