Funeral held for police officer killed in A66 crash

Police officers and army veterans have gathered for the funeral of the second officer killed in a head-on crash.

PC Tom Clough, 38, died on the A66 in South Bank, near Middlesbrough, in the early hours of 22 August alongside his colleague PC Matthew Blades when a Volkswagen Passat hit their marked police car. Five young men in the Passat also died.

Members of the public also gathered at Kirkleatham Walled Gardens, in Redcar, for the funeral, along with family, friends and former colleagues from the Civil Nuclear Constabulary in Sellafield, Cumbria.

Cleveland Police Federation chair Lauren Somerville said PC Clough's partner had said public support "brought them so much strength".

The ceremonial procession made its way along Plantation Road towards the Walled Gardens, accompanied by the music of a lone piper.

The road was lined on both sides with standard bearers who had lowered their flags before the cortege went past.

At its head was a mounted police unit of four horses.

Immediately behind them came the hearse carrying PC Clough's coffin, draped with the Union Flag and topped with his custodian helmet.

The hearse was flanked by officers in ceremonial dress escorting the coffin to the service.