A regional daily has helped the devastated families of four friends killed in an industrial accident raise nearly £9,000 for a memorial to them.

East Anglian Daily Times editor Terry Hunt and reporter Mariam Ghaemi collected £3,000 from The Cock Inn in Stanton, near Bury St Edmunds, towards the fund in memory of brothers Thomas and Daniel Hazelton, Peter Johnson and Adam Taylor.

They died when a giant steel structure collapsed on them at an engineering works in Great Yarmouth on 21 January this year and the investigation into the accident is continuing.

The paper launched the fund in partnership with the men’s families and it has now raised £8,935.70 for a memorial.

Terry said: “This is a tragedy which has had a devastating effect on a close-knit community.

“I think it is right that we support them in whatever way we can and if this appeal is helping the men’s friends and family deal with this terrible event in some way then it has to be a good thing.”

Matthew Hazelton, brother of Tom and Daniel, said the fund figure achieved was ‘fantastic’ and the families hope to get together soon to discuss what the money will be spent on.

Support for the fund has come from all sectors of the community, including schools, businesses and individuals.