Funeral will be held today for second police officer killed in A66 crash that sparked north-east mayhem

The friends and family of a ‘hero’ police officer and former soldier who lost his life in the A66 tragedy will gather today to say a final goodbye.

Police Constable (PC) Tom Clough, 38, will be given full police honours at his funeral in Redcar, North Yorkshire, just as his colleague PC Matthew Blades did in Hartlepool yesterday.

The two officers died together last month when their armed response car was hit head-on near Middlesbrough by a Volkswagen Passat containing a group of youths who were fleeing the law.

PC Clough served with Cleveland Police, saw active duty with the British Army and had also served with the Civil Nuclear Police and British Transport Police.

His family said he devoted his life to public service to ‘make the world a better place’.

PC Clough was in 11 Troop, Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search Regiment, based at Dreghorn Barracks in Edinburgh – and served in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Lauren Somerville, Chair of Cleveland Police Federation, said: ‘Tom’s family want to say thank you, the public support has been overwhelming for them and it has kept them going in these very dark times.

Police Constable Matthew Blades was the other officer killed in the head-on smash on the A66 in Middlesbrough

‘Tom wasn’t just a Cleveland Police Officer, he was a partner and a brother and a son – but he was also a father to a sausage dog called Frank, who he loved so deeply.

‘Tom used to say that there wouldn’t be anybody at his funeral. He couldn’t have been more wrong. Tom was so full of fun – he is described as giving everything to everybody.’

She added: ‘Tom was loved deeply by his colleagues, people have been contacting me who worked with Tom, years and years ago. He served in the military, he was in the Civil Nuclear Police, the British Transport Police and Cleveland Police.

‘I would say that it would be an understatement to say that every single place that he served was privileged to have him with them. He will be hugely missed.’

In a statement, PC Clough’s family said: ‘He was our hero with a fantastic sense of humour who jumped into action whenever needed, and was willing to help anyone for any reason.

‘He proudly fought for his country to make the world a better place and was always on public duty throughout his short life.

‘We as a family and Tom’s partner would like to express our sincere gratitude for the overwhelming support and condolences from friends, colleagues and the wider community.’

Chief Superintendent Richard Clark, who was PC Clough’s commanding officer at Sellafield Operational Policing Unit, also paid tribute to him.

Hundreds of police officers attended the funeral for their colleague Matthew Blades in Hartlepool yesterday

Pallbearers carried the coffin of PC Blades into St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Hartlepool yesterday

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Emotional police officers hugged each other before the funeral of PC Blades in Hartlepool yesterday

He said: ‘I had the privilege of knowing Tom during my time as Chief Inspector at Sellafield, where we worked together on numerous operational deployments and exercises.

‘Tom was the epitome of professionalism, bringing dedication, skill and commitment to every task, whether serving within our Dynamic Search and Interdiction Team, or in his role as a Police Medic.

‘Yet what made Tom truly special was his personality. Alongside his professional excellence, he possessed a fun-loving, cheeky nature and a wit that could lift spirits even during the most demanding shifts.

‘He had an extraordinary ability to light up any room he entered and to bring people together through his warmth, humour and authenticity.

‘Tom was a hugely popular CNC officer, respected by colleagues and leaders alike, and it is no surprise that many of those who served alongside him remained close friends long after he left the organisation.

‘While his life was far too short, it was undoubtedly one that was lived to the full. Tom will be remembered with immense affection, gratitude and respect, and he will be hugely missed by all who had the privilege of serving alongside him.’

Father-of-two PC Blades’s funeral took place yesterday in his home town of Hartlepool and was attended by around 1,000 police officers from across the country and hundreds of members of the public.

Some of the officers who attended the funeral wore identity patches ‘Pc 2443 BLADES’ and ‘Pc 3234 CLOUGH’ on their uniforms.

PCs Clough and Blades were killed at 3.39am on Saturday, August 22 when their armed response vehicle was struck at South Bank, near Middlesbrough, by a speeding Passat containing five youths and young men aged between 17 and 23.

Jakub Matusiak, 23, Makai Saddington, 18, Michael Cahill, 23, Cole Worthy, 17, and Theo Rae, 17, were also killed in the crash. Cole Worthy’s funeral also takes place today in Middlesbrough.

Police said the five all had links to organised crime and had been trying to flee police when they drove the wrong way up the A66 into the police vehicle.

The Passat had set out in pursuit of a Volvo XC60 which had rammed the homes of relatives of Worthy and Rae as part of a tit-for-tat gangland turf war over the supply of drugs on Teesside.

PCs Clough and Blades died from severe head and neck injuries at the scene. An online appeal raised more than £1.2million for the police officers’ families.