Live updates as police find car containing three people dead and two seriously injured after they went missing on night out

Three people are dead and two are seriously ill after a five people went missing after a night out. Gwent Police confirmed in the early hours of Monday morning that the car they were in had been found crashed.

A statement from police say It’s believed the car was involved in a road traffic collision and came off the A48 near St Mellons, adding: "Three of those who were reported missing have been found deceased, two have been taken to hospital with serious injuries."

Sophie Russon, 20, Eve Smith, 21, and Darcy Ross, 21, who are all from Newport, were at the Muffler bar and club in Maesglas in Newport on Friday evening before friends believe they headed to Trecco Bay in Porthcawl with Shane Loughlin, 32, and Rafel Jeanne-Actie, 24, who were also reported missing.

Over the weekend friends and family of the three women and two men had been desperately appealing for any help to try and find them. Then in the early hours of Monday morning came the sad news that the VW Tiguan they had been travelling in had been found.

Specialist officers are supporting the families of those involved and enquiries are ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to call 101, or send us a direct message, quoting 2300071791. The case has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct in line with normal procedures.

On Monday morning, the A48 Eastern Avenue is closed both directions near the garden centre.. The roundabout is closed, meaning traffic can't get to and from the A48 Eastern Avenue dual-carriageway.