AN EYEWITNESS described how an ambulance crashed near Newport yesterday while responding to a 999 call.

The emergency vehicle was in an accident with a van and toppled on to its side at the Croes-y-Mwyalch roundabout on the A4042 between Newport and Cwmbran at 11.30am yesterday.

Deborah Francis, 39, of Claremont, Malpas, was driving along the road moments before the accident.

She said: "An ambulance with its blue lights flashing came up behind me and I slowed so it could get past."

"When I looked again it was up on two wheels then it went on to its side. It was shocking - my legs have not stopped shaking."

Ms Francis' partner, Stephen Lindsey, 53, who was a passenger in the car, said: "I was concerned that somebody ill in the back could have been injured. But luckily nobody was badly hurt."

No patient was in the ambulance at the time. The ambulance was answering a 999 call in Cwmbran, and was carrying two paramedics and a doctor.

One of the paramedics had a minor cut. A rapid response vehicle and another ambulance were sent to deal with the original call.

Two ambulances attended the crash and took the paramedics, doctor and the van driver to Newport's Royal Gwent Hospital as a precaution.

The road was closed temporarily following the smash and major tailbacks built up between the roundabout and Cwmbran Drive.

The road was re-opened after the vehicles were removed. Speaking at the scene of the accident, Sergeant Andrew Elliott of Gwent Police said an investigation into the cause of the accident had been launched. "At this time the cause of the accident is unknown," he said.