PLAYERS in a Gwent football league suffered a spate of injury misery in the course of just a few days.

Six suffered breaks, fractures and torn hamstrings and one needed 27 stitches in his mouth after colliding with another player.

An inquiry is also underway after a footballer who broke his leg in three places during a Gwent Central league match claims he waited more than an hour for an ambulance.

Matthew Williams, who was playing for Race against Pandy at Abergavenny, was injured just 20 minutes into the game.

When an ambulance did not turn up by the end of the match, a decision was made to take him to Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny, by car. David Hodgkins, secretary of the Pandy club, eventually drove Mr Willams to the hospital in his car.

He said the injured man, who is from the Pontypool area, in a lot of pain. "We covered him up with a blanket and dialled 999.

"We called them about three times to find out where the ambulance was." He said they were told the ambulance was on its way, but it still did not turn up.

Ray Griffiths, secretary for the league, told the Argus: "It was not very satisfactory at all."

Scott Jenkins, secretary for Race, said he believed Mr Williams suffered a cracked fibula and two cracks to the tibia and underwent surgery the day after the accident.

A spokeswoman from the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust said no verbal or written complaint was received from the patient but they would welcome the opportunity to investigate if he got in touch.

Four other footballers, besides Mr Williams, injured limbs in accidents during matches played last week.

Cwmffrwdoer player Derry Probert broke a leg, as did a West Pontnewydd player.

Michael Ives, playing for Usk, tore a hamstring at Panteg - and Paul Combes, of PILCS, broke an arm in the last two minutes of a game at Whiteheads, Newport.

Rob Westall, playing for Llanarth, collided with another player while heading the ball, cut his mouth and received 27 stitches, after a match last Thursday.

Mr Westall, who was attempting to head the ball when the accident happened, was due to have the stitches out today.

The 26-year-old, from Abergavenny, said: "It is very sore. And I hope this doesn't detract from my facial features, so that I can get a girlfriend!" Mr Griffiths said it was "very unusual" for there to be so many accidents in such a short period.