TONNES of steel crashed into a children's playground in Monmouthshire yesterday.

The accident happened at 10.15am at the Raglan service station just off the northbound A449.

The truck, a Mansel Davies and Son haulage vehicle, lost its load of steel coil just as it entered the services from the carriageway sliproad.

Its load was sent crashing through the trees and wooden fencing surrounding the play area, only narrowly missing a park bench.

No-one was in the park at the time and the driver escaped without injury. The playground was immediately closed.

Police cordoned off the service station for more than four hours while recovery vehicles worked to move the lorry and its load.