TWO Amman Valley drivers who killed a pensioner while racing each other have been jailed.

David Henry, 21, of Arfryn, Upper Brynaman, was driving at 72mph in a 30mph area when he hit John Gwyn Edwards.

David Jones, 26, of Crescent Road, Gwaun cae Gurwen, was travelling at 59mph even though he was braking at the point where the speeds were logged.

Mr Edwards, aged 72, was in Brynaman Road, close to the Cwmgors Rugby Club, when he was thrown into the air by the impact of Henry’s Vauxhall Corsa. He was declared dead at the scene.

A local postman, Paul Jones, told police the pair had been “going like hell.”

Swansea Crown Court heard that another witness said they were driving so closely together "it was like a scene from a Formula One race".

The court that Henry and Jones had not known each other but had decided to race each other nevertheless.

They had been racing for at least 1.6 miles before the collision.

Delyth Howells, Mr Edwards’ sister, said in a victim impact statement that the hurt caused by Henry and Jones would never heal.

“It is as if someone had torn out a piece of my heart,” she added.

Henry and Jones were said to be “hugely remorseful” for what they had done.

Henry was jailed for 45 months after Judge Keith Thomas awarded him a discount for an early guilty plea.

Jones was jailed for 50 months, having entered a plea of guilty at a later stage in the proceedings.

Both admitted causing death by dangerous driving.

Judge Thomas said the sentences were not to reflect the value of Mr Edwards’ life. “Human life cannot be measured by the length of a prison sentence,” he added. “Nor can it reconcile a family to their loss or cure their anguish.”

He said Henry and Jones had driven in a "pointless, hot-headed and dangerous way".