POLICE have confirmed that the two men killed in a fatal crash on the A36 - the second double fatal along the stretch of road in less than a week - were both from Warminster.

Officers received reports of a collision at around 5.57pm last night reporting that a silver Suzuki motorbike travelling towards Salisbury had been involved in a collision with a silver Toyota Yaris at Sherrington Lane, near Codford.

The motorcycle was travelling south from Warminster towards Salisbury when it was in collision with the Toyota which was entering the A36 from the High Street, Codford junction, say police.

Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, paramedics and Wiltshire Air Ambulance attended, but the motorcyclist, a 49-year-old man, and the Toyota driver, a 61-year-old man, both from Warminster, were pronounced dead at the scene

The road was closed at Knook on the north side, and the A303 on the south side, for six hours as police carried out investigations at the scene.

Colin Beagley, chairman of Codford Parish Council, said councillors have long had concerns over the safety of that stretch of the A36 and will be looking at possible improvements after speaking to police.

“The trouble with that junction is that if you are looking to get out onto the A36, especially at that time of the day, the sun is just setting,” he said.

“If people are driving even at the speed limit it is a bad junction.

“My heart goes out to the families and I want to offer my sincere condolences to them.”

People have been paying tribute to the men on Facebook.

Angie Harper wrote on Spotted in Warminster Town: “So sad, RIP. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family. God bless.” 

Stephen Dombkowski said: “The A36 has been cursed by accidents for decades.”

And Lesley Sheldon wrote: "Desperately sad, something has to be done on this junction. Put a roundabout in, put lights in. Condolences to the families x"

The crash comes just a week after the deaths of Westbury’s Philip Butler, 61, and Jennifer Jones, 28, on the A36 near Crockerton when the Ford Mustang they were travelling in collided with a lorry.

Wiltshire Police would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the latest accident, or anyone who saw the vehicles prior to the collision. Call 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.