FIVE people were left stranded for two hours yesterday when a cable on the Newport Transporter Bridge snapped.

The drama unfolded at about 4.10pm, when the gondola suspended on the cables above the River Usk ground to a halt as it was making its way to Pill.

Two cyclists, a motorcyclist, a driver and a conductor were forced to wait while engineers carried out repairs.

It is understood a haulage cable, used to pull the gondola across the river, snapped. There is a back-up cable which has to be operated manually.

Cyclist James Frampton, 30, of Charlotte Green, Pill, was on his way home from work.

"I heard a big noise and everybody turned around," he said. "The gondola stopped and we sat and waited. It was a relief when it started to move. I don't think I'll be using it for a while."

Anne Gatehouse, secretary of the Friends of Newport Transporter Bridge, said: "I've never heard of anything like this happening before. I'm very surprised because it is always maintained well."

Workers at the bridge refused to comment. It is likely it will be closed for two days for repairs.

The bridge was built by Newport engineer Robert Haynes 100 years ago this September.