Football fans pay respects to officers killed in A66 crash

Middlesbrough and West Bromwich Albion players observe a minute’s silence in memory of Pc Matthew Blades and Pc Tom Clough (Owen Humphreys/PA) PA Wire Press Association Reporters 1 minute ago Football fans paid their respects to the two constables killed in the head-on crash on the A66 and other Cleveland Police officers as the force continues to investigate a spate of incidents in the area.

Middlesbrough FC supporters applauded Pc Matthew Blades and Pc Tom Clough before their 12.30pm home game against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

Pc Blades, 37, and Pc Clough, 38, died in the collision with a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way on the A66 at South Bank last weekend.

Pictures of the two officers were displayed on screens in the Riverside Stadium and the crowd and players gave them a round of applause.

The King has also written to their families to express his condolences, the Mirror reported.

Middlesbrough FC said in a statement: ““The commitment shown by officers and staff, often in challenging and demanding circumstances, plays a vital role in keeping residents safe and helping people feel secure in their homes, neighbourhoods and local areas.”

People left floral tributes to Pc Clough and Pc Blades at the Cleveland Police HQ in Middlesbrough (Owen Humphreys/PA) PA Wire Cole Worthy, 17; Theo Rae, 17; Makai Saddington, 18; and 23-year-olds Michael Cahill and Jakub Matusiak were also killed in the crash.

Cleveland Police said its officers have been tackling alleged organised crime in the wake of the crash and, on Friday night, said some 24 people had been arrested in the crackdown.

Officers said four men, aged 35, 25, 40 and 21, were being held on suspicion of criminal damage with intent to endanger life after a vehicle crashed into a house in Steele Crescent, Middlesbrough, on Thursday morning.

They were also being questioned over alleged arson after a caravan was set alight in Atlee Road on Wednesday morning, and a drugs offence.

Seven people were killed in the crash on the A66 (Owen Humphreys/PA) PA Wire The force said the men were in a vehicle when they were stopped by police on Kingsley Road in Grangetown on Thursday night.

Earlier on Friday, detectives confirmed they were not linking a house fire which killed a seven-year-old girl and her aunt to the A66 crash.

Natalie McDonald, 34, and her niece, Valentina Foster, died while four other people were injured in the blaze on Wednesday morning – with two men, aged 23 and 31, still in custody on suspicion of murder.

Seven more arrested in organised crime crackdown after deadly A66 crash