Two hotel workers died and two of their friends were seriously injured when their car smashed into a road sign.

The four men were travelling along Saint Hill Road in East Grinstead when the driver lost control early this morning.

The white Renault Clio veered across into the next lane before it hit a 'Welcome to East Grinstead' sign and landed in a hedge.

Colleagues Gary McCrimmon, 31, and Matthew Hatfield, 22, who worked at the five star Alexander House hotel, in Turners Hill, were sitting in the back seat of the car and died from injuries they suffered in the crash.

The driver and front passenger were cut from the car by firefighters and taken to East Surrey Hospital in Redhill for treatment.

A 22-year-old man was later released from hospital and spoke to police about what happened.

His friend, 23, this evening remained in intensive care with suspected internal injuries.

The car was heading towards Alexander House when it crashed into the back of the sign at 12.20am.

Bar and restaurant worker Mr McCrimmon and concierge Mr Hatfield had both worked at the luxury spa hotel for over a year.

Staff at the hotel were told about their colleagues' fatal accident when they arrived at work this morning.

Alexander House general manager Jonathan Owen said: "Primarily our thoughts are with their families at this difficult time.

"They were two exemplary employees who will be sadly missed by everybody here."

A bar and restaurant worker at the hotel, who wished to remain anonymous, said he was struggling to come to terms with the news of his friends' deaths.

He said: "I'm deeply saddened because they were both very good friends of mine.

"This is a very big shock to me and everyone who knew Gary and Matthew.

"I don't have any words to express how I feel because I'm very upset."

Mr McCrimmon and Mr Hatfield were not originally from the area and police were last night in the process of contacting their families.

The road was closed until 7am while the casualties were taken away and the car was removed.

Police and forensic teams combed the area until around 3pm looking for evidence of what caused the crash.

Workers from Mid Sussex District Council cleared up the remainder of the debris from the accident and are expected to remove the damaged sign tomorrow.

The sign will be replaced in the next couple of weeks and the nearby flower beds replanted.

Sgt Jon Carter, who is leading the Sussex Police investigation into the accident, said: "We want to talk to anyone saw the collision or who saw a white Renault Clio being driven in the area prior to the collision."

Anyone with any information should call Sgt Carter, quoting Operation Gower, on 0845 6070999.