Katie Williams
Live reporter

Image source, PA Media

Seven people are dead after a Volkswagen Passat travelling in the wrong direction collided with a police vehicle on the A66 near Middlesbrough on Saturday morning.

Two police officers were killed - PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38 - along with five others understood to be males in their late teens.

Security camera footage appears to show a police chase nearby minutes before the fatal crash at 03:39 BST, but the BBC understands that Blades and Clough were not involved and just happened to be in the area.

The pursuit had been abandoned before the crash, according to a police source.

"These were brave officers protecting our communities," Cleveland Chief Constable Victoria Fuller said earlier. She asked people to avoid speculation while the Independent Office for Police Conduct carries out an investigation.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham says he is "devastated" by the deaths and that his thoughts are with the loved ones of everyone involved.

We're wrapping up our live coverage now, you can read more in our news story here.

Peter Harris
Reporting from Middlesbrough

It was an emotional statement earlier from Cleveland Police Chief Constable Victoria Fuller.

She’s been at the force for some time and also at the neighbouring Durham force, and will know the officers here very well.

It is clearly the worst duty imaginable for a chief constable to have to speak publicly about the death on duty of her officers.

Earlier, she described them as “brave officers protecting our communities and serving our residents who didn't return home to their families at the end of their shift”.

This is a tragedy which also involved five members of the public.

A bouquet of flowers has been left outside Cleveland Police headquarters after two officers were killed in this morning's fatal collision.

Chief Constable Victoria Fuller was visibly emotional while delivering a statement there earlier, naming the officers as PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough.

Police charities and memorials have responded to the crash, sharing condolences on social media after two officers were killed.

UK Police Memorial, which honours those who have dedicated their lives to policing, says "these brave officers served their community without fear or favour", adding that their "courage, dedication and ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten".

Care Of Police Survivors (COPS),the charity supporting families of officers who have died on duty, says it is "devastated to hear the tragic news".

Police Memorial Trust, which places memorials to fallen officers, sends its "sincere condolences" to loved ones.

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More details have emerged about the car crash on the A66 near Middlesbrough that killed seven people.

Here's what we know:

• Seven people died - including two Cleveland Police officers, PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, and five others, understood to be males in their late teens
• All the occupants of both vehicles were pronounced dead at the scene
• The crash happened on the A66 in South Bank, near Middlesbrough on Teesside, at about 03:39 BST on Saturday
• The collision involved a police vehicle and a Volkswagen Passat that was travelling in the wrong direction
• The Independent Office for Police Conduct said earlier that officers "sighted a suspicious vehicle and a pursuit began" - but the BBC understands that the police car hit in the crash was not part of the pursuit and just happened to be in the area

What we don't know:

• The full circumstances that led to the collision
• The identities of the five people in the Volkswagen Passat

Security camera footage appears to show several police vehicles chasing a car just moments before this morning’s fatal collision.

The clip is thought to have been filmed on Lime Road in Middlesbrough at 03:36 BST.

Around three minutes later, a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way on the A66 nearby collided with a marked police vehicle. PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough are confirmed to have died in the crash, along with the five occupants of the Volkswagen.

The BBC understands the officers had not been part of the pursuit, which was abandoned before the crash, and just happened to be in the area.

Image source, Getty Images

More political reaction now, with Andy McDonald, MP for Middlesbrough & Thornaby East - pictured left above - describing the fatal A66 crash as "truly tragic".

"Cleveland Police are focussed on supporting the families of the bereaved as well as dealing with their own grief," the Labour MP writes on X.

"They have my unequivocal support & I amplify their plea to refrain from speculation."

While Jonathan Brash, MP for Hartlepool - pictured right above - writes: "I am deeply saddened by the tragic events on the A66 in the early hours of this morning."

The fellow Labour MP says the families, loved ones and colleagues of those who have died are now facing "unimaginable grief".

Brash adds: "At this painful time, it is vital that we avoid speculation and show decency, sensitivity and respect for all those who are grieving."

Sarah Jones, minister for police and crime, says she has spoken to Cleveland Police Chief Constable Victoria Fuller after the fatal car crash.

"We ask so much of our officers," Jones writes on social media.

"My thoughts are with all those who have lost their lives - and their loved ones, friends and colleagues."

Philippa Goymer
BBC North East and Cumbria, reporting from Middlesbrough

The occupants of the Volkswagen Passat which collided with the police vehicle were all in their late teens, the BBC understands.

They are also believed to be male.

We've just heard from Cleveland's Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey on Radio 4's PM programme.

It's "obviously a horrendous incident" and "very upsetting for everyone involved", he says, adding that his "heart goes out" to the families and colleagues of the officers, as well as the loved ones of the people in the Volkswagen Passat.

Storey "can't comment on the operational aspect of what's happened", and says it's "best not to speculate at this point".

He describes communities in the region as "really close knit" and says "everyone's heartbroken".

• It follows an earlier statement, in which Storey said there were "few words" that could bring comfort to the families of those who died

The mayor of Tees Valley Ben Houchen describes the crash on the A66 as “a horrible and tragic incident”, adding “our police officers are heroes”.

“My thoughts are with those affected, their families and the emergency services who attended the scene," he tells the Press Association.

“Our police officers are heroes who put everything on the line to protect us and I know all of Teesside will want to pay tribute to the officers and other emergency service workers involved for the bravery they have shown in responding to this incident.”

In a statement released by Cleveland Police following the media briefing, the force says the two officers killed were both in their late 30s.

It says PC Matthew Blades was 37, while PC Tom Clough was 38 years old.

Image source, PA Media

Cleveland Police Chief Constable Victoria Fuller addressed the media a little while ago, where she named the two police officers killed in the car crash on the A66 this morning.

Here's what she said:

• The two police officers killed were PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, Chief Constable Fuller described them as "brave officers protecting our communities"
• The collision involved a Volkswagen Passat "travelling the wrong way down the A66", which collided with a marked police vehicle
• Formal identification of the five others killed has now taken place, she said
• The matter is being referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC)

Fuller urged the public to respect the privacy of the families and avoid speculation while the investigation is ongoing.

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Shadow home secretary Chris Philp has shared his condolences after this morning's fatal crash, which killed two police officers and five others.

"My thoughts are with the families and friends of those officers killed in the line of duty earlier today as well as those serving in Cleveland Police, the wider police family and all the emergency services who attend the scene," he says.

He adds that the police and Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) "must be given the time and space to complete their investigations without speculation".

The police car involved in the crash was not part of the pursuit, it was just in the area, the BBC understands.

The pursuit had been abandoned before the crash, according to a police source.

Chief Constable Victoria Fuller concludes her statement by "strongly" urging people to avoid speculation while the investigation is ongoing.

She also asks for the privacy of the families involved be respected.

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Chief Constable Victoria Fuller says formal identification of the five others killed has also now taken place.

Specialist family liaison officers are also being deployed to support the bereaved families, she says.

She says that, as there are deaths connected to the incident, it is mandatory to refer the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, and the force will fully co-operate with the agency's investigation.

As we mentioned earlier, the two police officers killed in this morning’s crash have just been named.

They are PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough.

Image source, PA Media

Chief Constable Victoria Fuller says the loss is being felt "across 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," she says.

She adds that she and the deputy chief constable visited the police officers' families to offer their condolences earlier.

Cleveland Police Chief Constable Victoria Fuller says that at 03:39 this morning, a Volkswagen Passat was "travelling the wrong way down the A66" and collided with a marked Cleveland Police vehicle.

She names the two police officers who died at the scene.

We will bring you their names as soon as we've confirmed the spellings.