GWENT police have arrested two men in connection with a rape and serious sexual assault in Risca.

They have also arrested a man in connection with a second, unrelated, sex assault.

Officers launched an investigation after a 15-year-old girl was seriously sexually assaulted and, it is understood, raped, at around midnight on Monday.

The teenager was walking along a lane to the rear of Commercial Street, near Lidl, in Risca, when she was grabbed and assaulted.

The men arrested are both from Abercarn and are aged 22 and 23.

Risca councillor Stan Jenkins said the community would be shocked by the news of the attack.

He said: "Things like this make your blood boil, they hit you for six."

Policearrested a 37-year-old man from Newport in connection with the second sex assault.

They are treating the incident as unrelated to the Risca attack and say it happened in Maesycwmmer on Sunday between 1.50am and 2.30am.

A 43-year-old woman was picked up on the Main Road, by John Booth's garage, by a man posing as a taxi driver.

The victim was driven in the direction of Caerphilly until the vehicle stopped in a mountain area where she was sexually assaulted.

Inspector Lee Ford, of Gwent police, said: "We would like to remind women that although this kind of incident is rare, extra vigilance should be paid when accepting lifts and only to ever accept lifts from taxi drivers registered with the local authority.

"Their current taxi driver licence should be clearly displayed inside the cab."

An incident room has been set up at Bedwas police station and anyone with information about the attacks can contact Gwent Police on 01633 838111 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.