THE concrete and metal barrier the car ploughed through was old, rusted and needed replacing, angry Swffryd residents claim.

Only a year ago part of the barrier further along the B4471, Swffryd Road, had been modernised by the council.

But tragically the work had not been extended to the stretch of road where the horrific crash happened.

Instead a more than 50-year-old fence remained the only protection from the massive 100ft drop into the former Monk's Quarry.

Stephen Hayward, 50, was born in Swffryd. He told the Argus the crash barriers had been in place for as long as he could remember.

He said: "My father helped build that road back in the 1940s and as far as I know the barrier hasn't been changed since then. It's old and rusty and we need a new one."

Darren Slocombe, 33, from Keir Hardie Terrace, was one of the first people at the scene of the accident.

He said: "People have been complaining about the fence along the Swffryd Road saying there should be proper barriers there. I think it was an accident waiting to happen - my father said that the fence was older than him.

"There is no way that a concrete post and a rusty bit of scaffolding pole is going to stop cars from going over the edge."

Kay Hitchman lives in Gordon Avenue, her garden overlooks Swffryd Road. She also claimed the barriers were too old and flimsy.

She said: "As soon as I heard where the accident happened, I knew the people involved didn't stand a chance.

"Those old barriers are no good, we need high and strong crash barriers there."

Deborah Legg, also of Gordon Avenue, said she hoped following the fatal crash the barriers would be modernised and strengthened. She said: "Those barriers are flimsy and old, when I found out about the accident I felt sick to my stomach.

"We need warning signs to alert people from out of the area about the drop at the other side."

Blaenau Gwent AM Peter Law said it was now a matter for the experts. He said: "I think a strengthening of the safety barrier is something I would encourage to be looked at.

"It is too early to say what happened but a review of highway safety needs to be undertaken and I have every confidence in the police and the highway authority to do this."

A spokesman for Blaenau Gwent council said: "All the circumstances are being investigated by the police and it would not be right for the council to say anything more until the investigation has been completed."