POLICE searching for a missing group of three women and two men have found three of them dead.

Gwent Police has not confirmed the identities of the people who died, but said the other two people have been taken to hospital "with serious injuries".

A search for the missing group was launched on the weekend after they had reportedly attended a club in the Maesglas area of Newport and then disappeared.

Officers found the car the group was last seen in, while searching along the A48 in St Mellons, shortly after midnight today, Monday.

It's believed the car, a Volkswagen Tiguan, was involved in a crash and came off the A48.

Specialist officers are supporting the families of those involved and "enquiries are ongoing", a Gwent Police spokesperson said.

Anyone with any information is asked to call police on 101, or send a direct message on social media, quoting 2300071791.

The case has been referred to the police watchdog the IOPC "in line with normal procedures", Gwent Police added.

Three of the five people who went missing after a night out in Cardiff on the weekend have been found dead

The other two missing persons have been transported to hospital with serious injuries according to Gwent Police.

All five, three women and two men, were last seen in the early hours of Saturday, March 4 in the Llanedeyrn area of Cardiff.

The women, Sophie Russon, 20, Eve Smith, 21, and Darcy Ross, 21, all from Newport, travelled from Porthcawl in a Volkswagen Tiguan with two men, Rafel Jeanne, 24, and Shane Loughlin, 32, both from Cardiff.

A Gwent Police spokesperson, on Monday, said: "Following enquiries to locate five people who were reported as missing, officers have found the car they were last seen in, in the St Mellons area of Cardiff.

"The VW Tiguan was recovered just after midnight on Monday 6 March.

"It’s believed the car was involved in a road traffic collision and came off the A48.

"Three of those who were reported missing have been found deceased, two have been taken to hospital with serious injuries.

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

Anyone with any information is asked to call the Police on 101, or send a direct message on social media, quoting 2300071791.

The case has been referred to the IOPC in line with standard procedures.