TWO people died in a head-on collision between two vehicles at lunchtime today, said South Wales Fire and Rescue Service.

A spokeswoman for the fire service said they were called to the crash outside The Hardwick pub in Abergavenny just before 12.30pm.

Both of the dead were in one of the vehicles, and firefighters freed one person from the other.

Crews from Abergavenny, Ebbw Vale and Blaenavon were at the incident and used hydraulic cutting equipment.

The casualty was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Inspector Robert Witherall, of Gwent Police, said the road is currently closed while an investigation is carried out.

He would not confirm the report that two people had died but said one person was taken to hospital.

"We are treating it as serious."