The Mazda was shunted slowly into the river after being parked in the Cow Haugh car park in Rothbury on Tuesday, December 30.

A Northumbria Police horsebox containing two horses was parked in the car park when it rolled into the empty car at a low speed pushing the front of the car into the river.

A Northumbria Police spokesman said: "No people or animals were injured and inquiries are on-going to establish how this happened."

Olwen Cherry, warden at Riverside Caravan Park in Rothbury was walking her dogs when she saw the car being pushed into the river.

She said: "We saw the family get out of the car and we admired their dogs.

"We crossed over the metal bridge on the river and started walking and heard all this commotion and then saw this horse transporter go in behind this little silver car.

"The owners were shouting 'stop stop', it was horrendous.
"The family hadn't even left the car park and they came running over back to the car. You're not used to seeing things like that."