More than £250,000 has been raised for the families of the two deceased PCs from Cleveland Police.

Police in West Mercia have paid tribute to two police officers who were killed in a crash on the A66 in Teeside at the weekend.

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PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, were killed when a Volkswagen Passat which was driving the wrong way down the carriageway and had been pursued by police hit a marked armed response vehicle.

More than £250,000 has been raised for the families of the two deceased Cleveland Police constables.

A police officer leaves flowers at the Cleveland Police HQ Memorial Garden in Middlesbrough, following the line-of-duty deaths of PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough | Photo: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire

placeholder image — A police officer leaves flowers at the Cleveland Police HQ Memorial Garden in Middlesbrough, following the line-of-duty deaths of PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough | Photo: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire

In a message of solidarity, a spokesperson for West Mercia Police said on social media: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic deaths of PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough of Cleveland Police.

“Our thoughts are with their families, friends, colleagues, and all those who have been affected by this devastating tragedy.

“From all of us at West Mercia Police, we are thinking of you.”