FIREFIGHTERS cut the roof off a car to free injured passengers after a collision in Marshfield, near Newport, this morning.

The three vehicle collision happened at 6.20am on Marshfield Road, between Marshfield and Castleton. The crash scene is pictured above.

A J-registered silver Vauxhall Cavalier SRi heading south was in collision a dark blue F-registered Ford Mondeo travelling in the opposite direction.

A moped was also involved in the crash and the rider, in his mid 20s, suffered minor injuries.

One of the motorists had head, leg and chest injuries and one person was trapped in the Cavalier.

All were conscious when attended by paramedics. An ambulance service spokeswoman later said two occupants were taken to the University Hospital, Cardiff, and another to the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport.

Mike Harding, of Marshfield Road, who lives near the scene of the crash, said: "There was a very loud bang shortly after six. I called the police straight away but didn't go out to look. Emergency services arrived quite quickly. This is a terrible corner."

Five ambulances and two fire crews from Malpas and Duffryn attended the incident. The road was closed for around three hours.

* In a separate incident, there were long tailbacks on the M4 eastbound this morning. Two lanes were closed after a lorry broke down.