Tributes have been paid to an “amazing” Linton couple who died in a car crash this week.

Reginald, 75, and Maria Towers, 71, of Palmers Close, died after their silver Hyundai Matrix collided with a white Vauxhall Vivaro on the A1307 in Haverhill shortly before 3pm on Monday.

The driver of the Vauxhall, a 42-year-old man, suffered a suspected fractured leg and was transported to Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

Liam Lee, a neighbour of Mr and Mrs Towers said: “They were the best people in Linton. She would come over and give me chocolates, he would help me and my dad out.

“It’s a tragedy for the family, I feel so sorry for them. You never expect that to happen. We have lost two brilliant people.”

Julie Supcik said: “Marie was the nicest person you could ever know. Reg was a keen gardener and he used to leave me bags of vegetables in the summer on the doorstep. They were amazing.”

Melvin Allen added: “(Reg) was always walking around with his dog. They were nice people. It’s terrible.”

A number of neighbours said the tragedy was made worse as one of the couple’s two sons had died in a car crash several years earlier.

The latest deaths on the A1307, close to the Suffolk/Cambridgeshire border, come after years of campaigning for the road to be expanded into a dual carriageway.

The crash took place on a stretch which has become a chokepoint for traffic and accident blackspots.

Curtis Payne, 23, of Chigwell, Essex, died after a crash involving his van and a lorry on the A1307 near Linton at 8am on November 14 last year.

West Suffolk MP Matt Hancock described the collision as “another terrible tragedy”.

“My thoughts are with their family and friends,” he said.

“I will not rest until we have improvements to this dangerous road. It is imperative that there is action as soon as possible to prevent more needless accidents and deaths.”