CALLS for traffic calming measures were renewed following a car smash in a Gwent village.

Worried residents in Pontnewydd are calling for speed bumps on a busy one-way system in the centre of the village.

Last week a car crashed through the wall of a house in Richmond Road in the centre of the village. The vehicle was abandoned by the driver and police are investigating the incident.

The property is empty, but Jane Rappell who also lives on Richmond Road, said it was the latest in a catalogue of worrying incidents.

She says vehicles have collided with her garden wall several times and only four weeks ago a car knocked down part of it.

"Cars are going round doing handbrake turns on the one-way system and they accelerate up and down," she said.

She added: "Is it going take someone getting killed before something is done? We need traffic calming measures now."

Mrs Rappell helped organise a 1,200 signature petition demanding traffic calming measures in the village two years ago, which was handed in to Torfaen council.

"A week after we handed it in a van went through my wall," she said.

Councillor Aneurin James, Torfaen's member for Pontnewydd, said he sympathised with residents.

He added: "The council is doing all it can. I don't believe we've ever had anything as serious as the latest incident before.

"I have been discussing the matter with officers and we will continue to look at the possibility of traffic calming measures.

PC Darrell Dewar, crime and disorder reduction officer for Cwmbran, said Pontnewydd, as well as the rest of the town, was troubled by "irresponsible" young drivers.

"They are sometimes driving erratically and speeding," he said.

He added: "We would remind young drivers that we have the power to impound vehicles belonging to persistent offenders."

PC Dewar said enquiries were ongoing into last week's incident on Richmond Road.