A PUB manageress was among two people - both in their 20s - who died in an horrific crash on the notorious A140 road yesterday, it has emerged.Kirsty Cracknell, assistant manageress at the Bucks Head pub at Thwaite, near Eye, was killed in an accident only half-a-mile away from her workplace.

By David Green

A PUB manageress was among two people - both in their 20s - who died in an horrific crash on the notorious A140 road yesterday, it has emerged.

Kirsty Cracknell, assistant manageress at the Bucks Head pub at Thwaite, near Eye, was killed in an accident only half-a-mile away from her workplace.

A young man who was in the same car also lost his life. His identity is not yet known.

The crash, which led to the closure of the A140 for seven hours, happened at about 3am yesterday and involved two cars, a red Vauxhall and a blue Volkswagen.

They collided on the brow of a shallow hill, about 200 yards north of Brockford Garage and within a 40mph speed limit zone.

The occupants of the Volkswagen were taken to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital for treatment for injures which were described as “minor”.

Ms Cracknell, who lived in a bungalow in nearby Stoke Ash, had been working at the Bucks Head for the pub's new tenants who took over two months ago. They declined yesterday to talk about the tragedy.

A notice at the junction of the entrance of the pub car park said: “Closed due to bereavement.”

Shocked villagers at Stoke Ash said Ms Cracknell had moved in to her bungalow about 15 months ago and was well-liked.

“She was a lovely girl, very attractive. What has happened is dreadful,” said one local resident.

Another villager said Ms Cracknell had previously worked for a hairdresser in Mendlesham. “She was very nice - very good looking,” she added.

It is the first fatal accident on the Suffolk stretch of the A140 between Coddenham and Scole since February.

While police are still investigating the circumstances of the latest crash, it promoted renewed calls last night for the present system of variable speed limits on the Suffolk stretch of A140 to be abandoned.

Following public consultations, Suffolk County Council are set to make permanent the “experimental” 50 mph general limit with individual 30mph and 40mph stretches through villages.

Since the experiment was introduced about 18 months ago the number of casualties on the Suffolk stretch of the A140 has been almost halved - from 19 to 10.

Between June 2004 and June 2005 there were just nine minor accidents on the stretch of road, compared with an average of two serious accidents and ten minor incidents in the period from 1999.

But Peter Gammage, chairman of Thwaite Parish Meeting, said: The whole thing is a shambles. It makes you throw your hands up in despair.”

Mr Gammage said he would prefer a consistent 50mph limit along the entire stretch.

He had not seen any evidence that the recent reduction in accidents on the A140 was a result of the new system

“Making the limits go up and down like a yo-yo is ridiculous,” he added.

Mike Langan, former chairman of Stoke Ash Parish Council, said he had suggested an overall 50mph limit for the A140 - instead of the previous 60 mph - at a meeting three years ago in Yaxley Village Hall which had been attended by highways officials.

“It is, in some ways, a pain in the butt. However, it does give you a little more time to react if something goes wrong,” he added.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the accident to come forward. They should contact Pc Dave Taylor at force headquarters on 01473 613500.