An investigation has been launched after two men were killed and a third was left fighting for their life after a people-carrier left the A12 in north Suffolk and crashed into a wall near a village pub.

Six men, believed to be heading to a wedding in Lowestoft, were travelling in a Citroen Berlingo which came off the road at Blythburgh and was in collision with the wall at the entrance to the car park of the White Hart pub.

The tragedy happened at about 9.30pm on Saturday night. The single vehicle crash knocked over a telegraph pole and the car came to a rest on its side, making contact with the pub building.

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However, it is not thought that there is major damage to the pub itself and it is due to reopen today.

Two of those in the Berlingo were declared dead at the scene of the accident. A third was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge with head injuries and his condition was described as 'critical but stable' last night.

One man who was taken to Ipswich Hospital has serious injuries but is stable. A man was airlifted to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital with serious injuries, and a man was taken to the James Paget University Hospital, but then transferred to the N&N with serious injuries. Both are now said to be in a stable condition.

Police have not yet named the dead men – but it is understood that none of those in the car are from East Anglia. They were travelling north along the A12. Police are still trying to establish who was driving the car, which is due to be examined by vehicle experts later today.

Members of the family visited the scene of the collision to pay their respects yesterday morning. They did not want to say anything about those in the car – except that they were all devastated by the tragedy and they were heading for a wedding in Lowestoft.

The tragedy has prompted fresh concerns about road safety in Blythburgh, which is in a 30mph zone.

David Tytler, chair of Blythburgh Parish Council, lives opposite the White Hart and said the village had feared a major accident at that site for many years.

He said: 'The Parish Council has been arguing for speed warning signs for the last year but has been constantly told by Suffolk County Council highways' department that there were too few accidents on that stretch of road to justify any extra signs, such as flashing lights.'

'It is a disgrace if takes two fatalities before any safety measures are taken. The Parish Council will continue to press for extra warning signs to encourage drivers to drive more slowly through the village.

'Villagers were so worried about the safety of the A12 that they set up their own Community Speed Watch five years ago to monitor traffic. Perhaps now, the powers-that-be will take our concerns to heart.'

Emma Hibbert from Adnams, which owns the White Hart, said the fabric of the building did not appear to have been seriously damaged and it should be open as normal today. It was closed yesterday as a mark of respect to those who died.

She said: 'We would like to extend our condolences to the families of those who died in this appalling tragedy.'

Suffolk cabinet member with responsibility for roads Graham Newman was very sorry to hear of the deaths and said engineers would be studying the accident to see what lessons could be learned.

He said villagers were encouraged to work together to buy equipment to warn about dangers ahead – but there was a problem that flashing warning signs that were in a fixed location tended to be ignored after a while.