A GWENT horse rider is warning that a tragic accident in which a young woman died after her horse was allegedly startled by a low-flying military helicopter could happen again.

Melanie Dodds, a 39-year-old mother of two, from Caerwent, died in December as she rode along the A48 between Newport and Chepstow.

Accident investigators are examining claims that her horse bolted into the path of two cars after a helicopter flew past.

And a Gwent horserider has warned that the tragedy could happen again - after one of her horses started bolting when two low-flying helicopters passed over farmland near Langstone.

Jennifer Myerscough, 55, from Langstone, was at her stables in Court Farm, Llanmartin on Wednesday when she says two low-flying military helicopters spooked her horse.

Ms Myerscough said: "Bearing in mind the horrific accident that happened near here, I was gobsmacked and horrified that the MoD has chosen to fly helicopters over the farm.

"Why do they have to fly so low over agricultural land when they know there is livestock there?"

Mrs Myerscough has lodged a complaint with the Ministry of Defence, who have said they will investigate her grievances.

The RAF's Flying Complaints Unit is also investigating the possible involvement of one of its aircraft in Ms Dodds' fatal accident.

A spokeswoman told the Argus: "Low flying is governed by certain regulations concerned with speed, height and where we can practise low flying."

She said they were checking that all low-flying regulations were being followed.