Police divers have retrieved the body of a woman from a car which was swept into floodwaters in the Central Hunter.

About 8.50am (Wednesday 22 April 2015), police and emergency services were called to Cessnock Road, Maitland, following reports two vehicles had been swept into floodwaters.

On arrival, police from Central Hunter Local Area Command and officers from Fire & Rescue NSW and the State Emergency Service (SES), were told two vehicles had been swept away and were submerged.

Several people entered the water to assist and they, in turn, had to be rescued.

The search continued throughout the day and about 6.15pm, police located the two vehicles.

Police divers were able to confirm no one in the second vehicle, however, the body of an 86-year-old Gillieston Heights woman was retrieved from the first vehicle.

While police had been told two people may have been in that first vehicle, divers could find no evidence that a second person was in the car. At this time, there have been no reports of people missing that could be connected to this incident.

A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.