Seven dead, including two police officers, in A66 crash near Middlesbrough

Two police officers were among seven people killed when a car travelling the wrong way down a dual carriageway crashed into a force vehicle.

A Volkswagen Passat with five occupants said to be in their late teens struck an oncoming marked Cleveland Police vehicle on the A66 near Middlesbrough at about 03:39 BST.

The BBC understands a pursuit of the car had ended before the crash, with the police vehicle just happening to be in the South Bank area. The occupants of both cars were pronounced dead at the scene.

The officers have been named as PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38. Chief Constable Victoria Fuller said they were "brave officers protecting our communities".

She said it was an "incredibly sad day for Cleveland", adding: "No one should leave their home and not return safely.

"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."

Fuller said she and her deputy chief constable had visited the officers' families to "offer our condolences, support one another, and begin to come to terms with this unimaginable loss".

The families of those identified had been informed and were being offered specialist support.

"This tragic incident will be felt across Cleveland, within our communities and throughout the entire policing family," Fuller added.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he was "devastated" by the news and thanked emergency services for responding in "incredibly difficult circumstances".

Security footage from a house on Lime Road in Middlesbrough appears to show a car being pursued by police vehicles three minutes before the crash.

Fuller said the officers were in a marked armed response vehicle travelling on the correct side of the road.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it had opened an investigation.

The watchdog said: "At this early stage, we understand Cleveland Police sighted a suspicious vehicle and a pursuit began."

The A66 is the major artery through Teesside and the location of the crash is surrounded by industrial units and factories.

The road was closed in both directions between Normanby Road and Church Lane with the force saying it was set to stay shut for the rest of the day.

Cleveland police and crime commissioner Matt Storey called it an "unimaginable loss" and said "few words [could] bring comfort" to those affected.

Anna Turley, MP for the local Redcar constituency, said she was "deeply saddened" and also thanked emergency services.

Cleveland Police Federation chairwoman Lauren Somerville said the loss of the officers was "unfathomable", adding: "Words cannot describe the pain the Cleveland Police family are feeling today."

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp shared his condolences, adding the IOPC "must be given the time and space to complete their investigations without speculation".

The Mayor of Tees Valley Ben Houchen said it was a "horrible and tragic incident" and police officers were "heroes".