Boys aged 16 and 17 among seven people dead in A66 crash that killed two police officers

Redcar MP says Teesside community is ‘reeling’ as PM offers condolences and asks public to avoid speculation

Tributes are being paid to two police officers who died on Teesside when a car travelling the wrong way along the A66 crashed head on into their vehicle, also killing five young men.

PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, were killed when the marked armed response vehicle they were in was struck by a Volkswagen Passat in the early hours of Saturday morning.

On Sunday, Anna Turley, a Home Office minister and local Redcar MP, said that it was “devastating” to think about the grief of the families of everyone who lost their lives on Saturday morning. The whole community was “reeling”, she said.

“All of us in the community here are sending our heartfelt thoughts and sympathies to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives so tragically,” she told BBC Breakfast.

Turley said it was important to avoid speculation about what might have happened and allow families the privacy to grieve.

“I do want to place on record my tribute to PC Blades and PC Clough. The bravery that we see from our police officers every day, every night is incredible. No one should not come home to their families at the end of their shift.”

She also said it was important to thank the emergency services who attended at the scene during “a really horrific incident”.

The prime minister, Andy Burnham, said he was “devastated” to hear that two police officers lost their lives on duty, as well as five members of the public.

“My thoughts are with the families and loved ones of everyone involved, and with everyone at Cleveland police. Thank you to the emergency services responding in incredibly difficult circumstances. I would urge people to avoid speculation at this time.”

Cleveland police chief constable, Victoria Fuller, said she and her deputy had on Saturday visited the families of the two officers to offer condolences and support.

“This is an incredibly sad day for Cleveland,” she said. “This loss is being felt across our communities, by our police family and by our partner agencies.

“These were brave officers, protecting our communities and serving our residents, who didn’t return home to their families at the end of their shift.”

Lauren Somerville, the chair of Cleveland police federation, said the grief among officers was “all-consuming, overwhelming”. She said: “Words cannot describe the pain the Cleveland police family are feeling.