Funeral for officer killed in crash to take place
A funeral is being held for PC Matthew Blades, one of two police officers killed in a wrong-way collision near Middlesbrough. The incident, which also claimed the lives of five young men, occurred following a police pursuit that had been abandoned shortly before the crash.
Why it matters
The tragedy has had a significant impact on the local community and the police force, prompting investigations into the circumstances of the pursuit.
Image source, Supplied Image caption, PC Matthew Blades was killed on 22 August while on duty for Cleveland Police
The funeral of one of the two police officers killed in a wrong-way crash is to take place later.
PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, died when a Volkswagen Passat collided with their marked armed response car on the A66 at South Bank, near Middlesbrough, on 22 August. Five young men were also killed.
Road closures will be in place in Hartlepool for PC Blades' funeral from 07:30 BST to allow for a full police ceremonial funeral.
Speaking on behalf of his family, Cleveland Police Federation chair Lauren Somerville said "life feels unbearably quiet" without the father-of-two's "silly jokes" and laughter.
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