MEMBERS of a village community have said they back a fund for a memorial for the four friends killed in a workplace accident.

Yesterday, residents and businesses in Stanton, near Bury St Edmunds, offered their support for the Four Friends Memorial Fund launched by the EADT in honour of brothers Thomas and Daniel Hazelton, Peter Johnson and Adam Taylor.

The four men died in an industrial accident at Claxton Engineering Services Limited in Great Yarmouth on Friday.

Tom, 26, Daniel, 30, and Peter (known as PJ), 42, were from Stanton and Adam, 28, was from nearby Rickinghall.

The Four Friends Memorial Fund is for a permanent memorial in the community, with the form of the memorial being decided by the families at an appropriate time.

Nigel Wallace, landlord of the Cock Inn pub, at the heart of the village community, said the support was there for the fund.

He said: “Hopefully we will get a decent amount to do something with.”

The pub has already offered to donate its own kitty for the families to the Four Friends Memorial Fund.

Nigel’s brother Glenn, who is the chef at the Cock Inn and knew the three Stanton victims, said they were “so-well loved” and well-known in the village.

“That’s why I’m sure the whole village will get behind it and do what they can,” he said.

He added how the tragedy had “hit the village very hard” and it was very hard to come to terms with.

“To lose one person is bad enough, but to lose three from the same village and one from the next village is even worse.”

Ahmet Firat, known as Charlie Chaplin, and who manages Stanton Fish & Chips, said: “It’s a good idea. As a community we are giving our full support for the loved-ones.”

Mr Firat said PJ, who he shared banter with, loved to order a large cod and chips with curry sauce.

“He was a lovely person,” he said.

Maurice Lynch, postmaster at Stanton Post Office, Celia Maddox, owner of Celia’s Hair Fashions, and Amanda Largent, owner of Cuttinroom.com, have all pledged their support for the campaign.

Resident Ann Arbon, who was reading tributes left at the war memorial yesterday, said she backed it.

Mrs Arbon, of School Close, said: “Every little helps.”

Former Ipswich Town footballer James Scowcroft has already offered to donate �200 to the fund.

•The post-mortem results for the four men are due to be released today.