DRIVERS were being warned to take extra care on the roads today as temperatures hovered just above freezing in Gwent.

Council gritting lorries treated the county's main roads, including the M4, overnight, but Gwent Police were still warning motorists to be vigilant this morning after several minor shunts.

One vehicle skidded off the westbound carriageway of the M4 near the Coldra between junctions 24 and 25 at around 6am.

The driver was unhurt, but force control room operator Mike Brown said black ice could still be a hazard - especially on minor routes and lanes.

He said: "Obviously the trouble with black ice is that you can't see it, and we'd ask drivers to be sensible.

"The main roads should be pretty good, but it's the side roads which could be a problem."

Twenty-nine accidents were reported in Gwent over the weekend, four of which were minor and blamed on icy road conditions.

And one motorist had a lucky escape yesterday morning when his car skidded on black ice into a ditch on the A48 Cardiff Road, near the LG plant in Newport.

The driver escaped unharmed after the silver BMW, pictured, came off the road at 9.55am. More cold and crisp weather is forecast for today.

Inspector Mark Wheatstone, from Gwent Police headquarters, urged drivers to be wary of the icy conditions.

He said: "The gritters will be out but we urge drivers to exercise due care."