Fund raises £1m in 3 days for families of police heroes in A66 crash

Donations to the families of two police officers killed by a gang driving the wrong way down the A66 in a stolen car have topped £1million.

PCs Matthew Blades, 37, and Tom Clough, 38, died alongside the five occupants of a VW Passat in the head-on smash in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Cleveland Police set up a GoFundMe appeal on Sunday to raise money for the officers' grieving families, with the funds raised already topping seven figures.

Meanwhile, a separate appeal established by Pocket Sergeant, has so far gathered another £48,000.

The force's accompanying tribute reads: 'PC Matt Blades and PC Tom Clough were both dedicated and committed Police Officers who left their families and went to work to serve their community and protect the public.