A witness has described his desperate and traumatic attempt to rescue a man from a burning car in Risca, Newport.

Police were called to Tredegar Park at around 9.30am today to reports of a car on fire . A man was in the car and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Tredegar Street, Park Road and Station Road were all closed as emergency services dealt with the incident.

People who witnessed the incident have spoken about what it was like to watch the car explode.

Tony Bryan, 38, from Llanrumney , Cardiff was out with his cousin when he was told what was happening.

"Someone shouted there was a car on fire. I ran over to the car and there was a guy sitting in the car," he said.

"I tried to open the door but it was still locked on the inside. I was screaming to people for a fire extinguisher. The car was basically on fire all inside the car."

Mr Bryan said a woman was also trying to help.

He said around 30 minutes later emergency services turned up.

"I got away then because I thought it was going to blow," he added.

"It was just traumatic. People didn't really rush over, some people got their phones out. It was me and some lady but the lady didn't come by the car. It's a shock."

Police and firefighters at the scene of the car fire in Risca
The car is covered after the fire was extinguished
The car being removed from the scene

Another man said he saw the car coming into the park which he thought was 'unusual'.

He said: "The park is not really intended for vehicles. He pulled to a halt. In fact, I walked in front of him. I carried on walking across to the library where I was heading, then there was a small explosion. I saw the car was on fire.

"Within two minutes there were people from the solicitors' office running up trying to open it because apparently there was someone in the car. I called the fire brigade then."

Officers put a screen up this afternoon to help remove the vehicle and it has now been removed from the area.

Police closed off roads as they dealt with the traumatic incident

Gwent Police also confirmed the death is not being treated as suspicious. A spokesman said: “At approximately 9.30am today we received reports of a car on fire in Tredegar Park, Risca.

“Officers, alongside colleagues from South Wales Fire and Rescue, South Wales Ambulance and the Wales Air Ambulance attended the scene.

“Sadly, a man was pronounced deceased at the scene. We are not treating his death as suspicious.

“Emergency services including South Wales Fire and Rescue and Gwent Police remain on the scene.

“Tredegar Park is closed to the public and surrounding roads, Tredegar Street, Park Road and Station Road also remain closed at this time.”