A DRIVER and passenger had an amazing escape when their car careered across a road and ended up wedged beneath a sign.

Rescuers said the married couple, from Newbridge, were "very lucky to be alive" after the crash yesterday on the Risca bypass.

The accident, involving an X-registration Mazda 626, occurred on the south-bound A467 between the Foxglove roundabout and Rogerstone intersection at 12.15 pm. No other car was involved.

The couple were cut free from the wreckage by firemen from Duffryn and Malpas stations before being taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital at Newport by ambulance. The couple were discharged from hospital early in the evening after treatment. Station Officer Geoff Wyatt of Duffryn fire station said 13 firefighters were involved in the incident.

He said: "When we arrived there were two people in the vehicle. The people were being stabilised by the ambulance personnel. They were complaining of neck injuries so we took particular care."

Inspector Alan Webber of Gwent Police said the car had collided with the crash barrier, turned over and struck a directional sign post.

He said: "In view of the fact the vehicle collided with the crash barrier and then flipped over before hitting a signpost it would appear the people in the vehicle were quite fortunate to escape with relatively minor injuries."

He confirmed no other vehicles were involved in the incident which was reported to the emergency services by a resident.

Police closed the near-side lane for two hours which caused minimal disruption.