THE driver of the vehicle swept away at high tide after it got stuck on a steep slipway has thanked 'brilliant' locals for their help.

St Agnes Coastguard Search & Rescue Team, were called to Trevaunance Cove, just under a mile from the centre of St Agnes, at around 8.30am yesterday after receiving reports of the car got stuck on the slipway.

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The 26-year-old driver, who was visiting from the Midlands with his family, told the Guardian website that the incident happened overnight when he and his friend became lost.

“The back tyres fell over the edge of the slipway,” he told the media outlet. “I tried calling 999 but we had no signal so we slept in the car for four or five hours with the wheels over the edge.

Then my friend said: ‘I’ve got a bad feeling, let’s get out of this car.’ We got out, went for a walk up the hill to get signal and by the time we got back the car was swimming.”

Salvage experts recovered the vehicle, worth more than £25,000.

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The vehicle perched on the edge of a wall before the waves engulfed it. Picture: St Agnes Coastguard

The driver thanked residents for their assistance. “I made a mistake,” he said. “I’m so sorry for the locals. They’ve been brilliant, they’ve been so polite and have asked us if we want any help. Luckily no one was hurt. It’s only a piece of metal, it’s not going to affect our holiday.”