TWO Gwent firms will not be prosecuted over their part in the Gwent Police vehicle recovery scheme.

The move comes after the Crown Prosecution Service in Wrexham, which had been probing the case, decided that charges should not be brought against Newport-based Walls Truck Services and Lanes.

Last year, a report by district auditor Paul Griffiths claimed the force's letting of the contract to recover vehicles from motorways and following accidents was "flawed". It had used Walls almost exclusively for the task, sparking controversy among other operators.

In the wake of the report, Gwent Police launched a criminal investigation into its own handling of the matter and the CPS in Wrexham looked into the possibility of prosecuting Walls.

However, a Gwent Police spokeswoman has now confirmed that there will be no prosecution against Walls or Lanes.

In a separate move, Thomas Killoran, whose son Anthony was killed in a motorbike crash six years ago, has launched a private prosecution against two people involved with Walls.

Motorcycle courier Anthony Killoran, of Durham Road, Newport, died four days after his 25th birthday in 1995.

He died when he was catapulted from his bike during the accident at a roundabout in Newport, hitting a steel lamp-post head-first.

In September, Mr Killoran launched his own private prosecution over the recovery of his son's bike by Walls. Mr Killoran, who lives in Manchester after moving from Pontypool eight years ago, laid information at Newport magistrates court at Pentonville on the sixth anniversary of his son's death.