TRANSPORT ministry officials are examining a coach involved in a crash in which a young Gwent woman died.

The dead woman, Victoria Coral Green, 18, from Newcastle, near Monmouth, was described by workmates as a "perfect girl" today.

The coach involved in the accident, a 55-seater Volvo belonged to Castell Coaches, from Bedwas, had been returning from a trip to Hereford market at 6.30pm on Wednesday, carrying 53 passengers, when the tragedy took place at Tintern.

Alan Morris, an engineer with the company, said yesterday: "The driver was very shocked and shaken by what happened. The coach is currently being inspected by officials from the Ministry of Transport."

Miss Green, 18, a former pupil at Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls had recently sat her A-levels in geography, chemistry and physics and was expecting the results next week.

Miss Green was on work experience with Hanson Aggregates prior to taking a place at Nottingham university to study quarry management.

Julian Radcliffe, unit manager of Machen quarry, for Hanson Aggregates, paid tribute to her: "She was wonderful, bubbly, a perfect girl."