An elderly disabled woman had an incredible escape after her car plunged down a 140 ft sheer drop.

Luckily a tree 60ft down the cliff stopped the 70-year-old's Suzuki Vitara from hurtling 80ft further down the banking and careering into a row of houses at the bottom.

Rescuers winched the woman to safety in a delicate 45-minute rescue operation said she was lucky to be alive. She was today recovering in Airedale General Hospital with minor injuries.

Police praised a group of five teenagers who saw the drama and raised the alarm using a mobile phone. Police believe the Silsden woman, who does not want to be identified, could have been stranded half way down the embankment but for the boys' prompt action.

Today she thanked her rescuers and praised the teenagers.

The rescue operation swung into action at about 9.25pm last night near the Cow and Calf Rocks in Hangingstone Road, Ben Rhydding, Ilkley, after fire, ambulance and police rushed to the scene.

Inspector Alison Bennett, of Ilkley police, said: "It could have been fatal. "The vehicle rolled over and down the banking, hitting the tree which stopped it ploughing into the houses.

"She's an amazing woman and was very calm.

"Five teenagers saw the accident and rushed to help. Some of them reassured the woman and one used a mobile phone to contact the emergency services.

"The five lads reacted well and should be praised for their quick actions."

A spokesman from Idle fire station said the woman had a lucky escape.

"It's a very steep drop and she had gone about 60ft before the tree stopped the car," said the spokesman.

"There's another 80ft to the bottom and if the tree had not stopped the vehicle she could have gone into the houses."

Firefighters used a winch from Idle's heavy rescue tender to stabilise the car. The woman was taken to the bottom of the steep drop in a basket stretcher and rushed to Airedale General Hospital.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman today said her injuries were minor and that she had been detained in hospital overnight as a precaution.

He said: "The rescue was made difficult by the gradient and the bracken.

"If the accident had not been seen by the young boys then she could have been there for some time."

The crash happened just months after a similar incident when an elderly man was killed and his female passenger injured when his car smashed through barriers on Hanging Stone Road above the Cow and Calf Rocks.

Patricia Graham, of Undercliffe Rise, who lives about 200 yards from the accident scene, said: "I didn't hear the car going off the road and it was very dark but I heard and saw the flashing lights when the emergency services arrived.

"This isn't the first time a car has gone off the road like this and it is getting too close for comfort."

Coun Colin Powell (Cons, Ilkley), said that putting safety barriers up on Hanging Stone Road would be an issue for future consideration after Mrs Graham voiced her concerns about the road.

He said: "Anything which prevents a serious accident and stops damage to property would obviously by advantageous and it's something we should look in to.

"I appreciate the concerns of the residents and any barriers should be considered and checked out to see if they are a practical solution to the problem."

Ilkley Parish Councillor Luther Jackson said: "This is certainly something we can bring before the board to look into and see what the situation is."

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