A pair of tractor drivers launched thunderbirds one and two when they heard about a number of distressed drivers in the snow last week.

Mark and Richard Smedley, from Four Elms Fruit Farm, along with Trevor Vincent managed to tow two double-decker buses and around 50 cars and vans to safety on Thursday.

The trio heard people were struggling to get up Four Elms Hill, between Sidmouth and Newton Poppleford, and jumped to their aid straight away.

Speaking to the Herald, Richard said: “It was a very gratifying thing to do.

“We looked over the hedge and saw people needed help. We thought we would only be a few minutes but we went out at 2pm and didn’t come back until 7pm.

“It was the only right and proper thing to do.

“We hope the remainder of everyone’s journeys were successful.”