ONE of the four men killed when their car overturned and plunged into a reen had raised concerns about the lack of safety barriers on the road where they crashed, his friend revealed.

Andrew Brooks would often comment about how dangerous the old coast road between Newport and Cardiff was, according to his best mate, Leon Smith.

Mr Brooks, who was 30, died along with brothers Scott and Warren Harding, who were 25 and 27, and 26-year-old Geraint Hill.

The four men were going on a late-night fishing trip near the lighthouse when their car left the road between Duffryn and St Brides.

Mr Smith, who is 31 and lives in Sycamore Crescent, Ty-Sign, Risca, said the pair would frequently go fishing near the lighthouse, St Brides, and would often talk about how hazardous the sharp unprotected bends on the road were.

"Andrew would say to me how dangerous the bends were and that they should have barriers on them," said Mr Smith, who will be a pallbearer at Mr Brooks' funeral next week.

"We used to wonder how many cars had gone off the road and into the reen over the years.

"It was something that would crop up, particularly during the winter, when it was cold, and frosty on the roads. We both thought it was ridiculous that some of the worst corners didn't have barriers."

Mr Smith added: "Barriers should be installed on the bends straightaway, out of respect for the families of the men who died. Millions were spent on the Southern Distributor Bridge, in Newport, and that was to ease congestion.

"They should now spend a few thousand on a health and safety issue of putting barriers on the corners that don't have them. It was an accident waiting to happen."

Mr Smith said he sorely misses the friend he knew for the last 20 years. "Andrew was a tremendous father and he loved his kids to bits," said Mr Smith.

"Nobody had a bad word to say about him and he didn't have a bad word to say about anybody. Andrew's parents and his partner, Jodie, have decided that I will have his fishing gear when it is eventually claimed back.

"I know Jodie doesn't want their 18-month-old son, Taylor, to get into fishing, when he grows up, but if one day he knocks on my door, it will be here for him if he wants it."

A neighbour in Pontymister told the Argus she last saw the four men at 8.55pm on the Saturday night. The Toyota Corolla they were travelling in was found overturned in the reen at 7.30am the following day.

INQUIRY TOLD FOUR DROWNED

FOUR friends drowned after their car overturned in a reen near Newport last weekend, according to preliminary investigations revealed yesterday.

Scott Harding, 25, his brother Warren, 27, Andrew Brooks, 30, and Geraint Hill, 26, all of Risca, were going on a fishing trip when the car veered off the coast road at St Brides and overturned in the reen.

Funerals of three of the men are due to be held next week. A joint service for Warren and Scott Harding is being held at Moriah Baptist Church, Risca, on Wednesday at 1.30pm, followed by cremation at Gwent Crematorium, Croesyceiliog.

Mr Brooks' funeral is being held in the same church the following day at 1.45pm, followed by burial at Danygraig cemetery, Risca. Funeral arrangements for Mr Hill have yet to be announced.

Yesterday, Gwent Coroner David Bowen opened and adjourned the inquest into their deaths.

Kenneth Le Provost, Coroner's Officer with Gwent Police, said the car was found overturned in the reen and when it was recovered the bodies of the four men were discovered.

Post mortem examinations were carried out and the preliminary cause of death in each case was given as drowning. "Further tests are being carried out and police enquiries are continuing to establish why the vehicle left the road," said Mr Le Provost.

Mr Bowen adjourned the inquest for three months to allow those enquiries to continue and released the bodies of the four friends, three of whom had young families, so their funerals could take place.

Scores of mourners visited St Margaret's Church, Brynmawr, in the wake of the tragedy after a book of condolence was opened.