POLICE are appealing for witnesses of a Bank Holiday horror smash which killed two people to come forward.

The Argus reported yesterday how two men died when a Vauxhall Astra and Audi estate were involved in the accident at the blackspot A4042 near the Llanellen Bridge, Abergavenny, at 5:40pm on Monday.

One of the passengers was thrown from the vehicle, and a second had to be freed by a firecrew.

The identities of the two dead, aged 22 and 27, both passengers in the Vauxhall Astra have yet to be released but Gwent Police have now confirmed that they and the surviving male driver come from the Merthyr Tydfil area.

Last night a Gwent Police spokeswoman said the 24-year-old driver remained in "a stable" condition in Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny.

The woman driver of the Audi, aged 57, and her male passenger, 51, both from the Bristol area, escaped serious injury and were taken to Nevill Hall Hospital as a precautionary measure only.

Detectives are anxious for anyone who witnessed the latest tragedy on the notorious road or saw the vehicles prior to the crash to come forward.

These latest deaths follow concerns about the safety of the road amid calls for a bypass to be built to reduce the flow of traffic.

In the last three years there have been three fatalities between Goytre and Abergavenny on the notorious stretch of the A4042.

Local county councillor Andre Arkell is leading the calls for the National Assembly to bypass the road between Mamhilad and Hardwick roundabout as part of its trunk road review.

Anyone with any information about the tragedy is asked to call the Gwent Police traffic department on 01633 838111.