A Ledbury lorry driver and a husband and wife from Pandy were killed in an horrific road accident near Pontrilas on Monday.

Kevin Greco, aged 32, of Queens Way, Ledbury, and Roger and Deirdre Collett, from Wern Gifford, Pandy, died in a collision on the A465 near Llangua Bridge.

Mr Greco was driving a white Iveco tipper lorry towards Hereford when it and a silver Volvo saloon were in collision, containing Mr and Mrs Collett, travelling in the opposite direction at around 2.30pm.

Tributes have been paid to Mr Greco, a driver for Hereford-based Brandon Tool Hire, and Mr and Mrs Collett, who ran Llangynidr Dairy, near Abergavenny.

Mr Greco, originally from Cradley, where his parents live, was described as a 'top class' employee by the manager of Brandon Tool Hire in Hereford, Gary Willis.

"Kevin was a very good friend, a lovely lad whom I also knew socially, and we are all going to miss him deeply. He had been with us for 12 months, but I had known him for a lot longer than that. He was a top employee," he said.

Close friend Gary Quinton, a fellow driver at Brandon Tool Hire, said: "I knew Kevin for 10 years, he was a very helpful and understanding friend. Kevin was liked by everyone that knew him. He was a very happy lad, who liked clubbing and going out. He was a very good mate who would do anything for you."

Roger Collett, 56, and 55-year-old Deirdre were very well known in Llangynidr and the immediate area because of their dairy business.

Brendan Williams, owner of Llangynidr Service Station, said Roger was a very keen bowler at both Crickhowell Bowls Club and his first love, Pandy Bowls Club.

Mr Williams added: "Roger was also the epitome of a local milkman because he was so well liked, warm and friendly. We would usually see Roger about three or four mornings a week. 'Dee' was also very nice, but more reserved. 'Dodger' and 'Dee' were everybody's friend."

The couple's son, Steve, plays football for Goytre Football Club, who have cancelled their matches this weekend as a mark of respect.

Goytre Football Club's chairman Paul Greenhalgh said: "Roger was a lovely chap and a Manchester United supporter like myself. He would watch our matches and listen to his headphones, keeping me informed of Manchester United's progress."

Fire crews from Ewyas Harold, Peterchurch, Hereford and Droitwich, and the Air Ambulance were scrambled to the accident but the three casualties were pronounced dead at the scene.

The road remained closed for almost seven-and-a-half hours, forcing lorries and other heavy goods vehicles to find routes through nearby villages and country lanes as traffic built up around the crash scene.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the accident, and anyone with information should contact PC Simon Prater on 08457 444 888.