Melanie Dodds was on a bridle path when her horse panicked

The RAF has launched an independent inquiry after a female horse rider was killed when her pony was startled by a low-flying helicopter.

Melanie Dodds suffered fatal injuries when the pony she was riding collided with two cars on the A48 near Caerwent, south Wales on Wednesday.

Police were able to confirm a helicopter was flying overhead at the time 39-year-old Ms Dodds was injured.

The RAF's own police will now launch an independent inquiry to investigate any involvement of military aircraft, a spokeswoman said.

"Our Flying Complaints Unit will investigate whether there should have been an aircraft in the area and whether all low-flying regulations were being adhered to.

"Low flying is governed by certain regulations concerned with speed, height and where we can practise low flying.

I understand they have to fly low in some areas, but I don't think it would be very appropriate to do it over a main road Reverend Edward Jones

"Those regulations are regularly reviewed. We obviously take very seriously incidents of low flying where injuries have occurred," she said.

An accomplished rider, Ms Dodds was exercising a pony with her friend Sonia Jones on a bridle path next to the road near the Wentwood Inn Public House when it is believed the helicopter flew over.

Ms Jones' father, Reverend Edward Jones, said: "It's important that there is a thorough investigation by the RAF.

"I understand they have to fly low in some areas, but I don't think it would be very appropriate to do it over a main road."

Monmouth MP Huw Edwards has expressed concern about low-flying military aircraft in the area on previous occasions.

He said: "I have written to the minister on behalf of people complaining about low-flying aircraft in the past, but this incident is particularly serious and tragic.

'Spooked'

" I would like to express my sympathies to Mrs Dodds' family, and I will make inquiries with the police before taking the case to the Ministry of Defence."

Stephen Davies, an eyewitness to the incident, said: "It (the helicopter) was virtually taking off the chimney pots and that spooked the horse which sent it out into the middle of the road with its rider."

Ms Dodds, from Caerwent, was taken by ambulance to the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport, where she was pronounced dead.

The incident involved two vehicles, a Mazda 323 and a Renault Safrane - the drivers were not injured.

The horse, a Welsh cob called Ed, was put down at the scene because it was seriously injured.

Officers want to speak to anyone who can offer any information about the incident, and have asked people to contact 01633 838111 and ask for the road policing unit.