The father of one of the teenagers killed in the fatal A66 crash has been charged with assaulting a mourner at his son's funeral service, Cleveland Police have confirmed.

Gye Worthy, 39, was arrested following a disturbance at Teesside Crematorium in Middlesbrough on Wednesday during the funeral of his 17-year-old son, Cole Worthy. The force has now formally charged him with common assault and obstructing a police officer. He is scheduled to appear at Teesside Magistrates' Court on 2 October.

A Cleveland Police spokesperson said visible patrols would remain in the area to provide reassurance, adding that the force was grateful to local communities for their continued cooperation and support.

Cole Worthy was one of five young men who died in the early hours of 22 August when a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way on the A66 collided with a police vehicle. The collision also killed Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Jakub Matusiak, 23, Makai Siddington, 18, and Theo Rae, 17. The final funeral among the five occupants, for Mr Cahill, took place on Thursday.

Two police officers travelling in the other vehicle, 37-year-old PC Matthew Blades and 38-year-old PC Tom Clough, were also killed. According to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, the officers were searching for the Passat after cloned registration plates triggered an automated camera, but they were not engaged in an active pursuit at the time of the crash. Cleveland Police Chief Constable Victoria Fuller described both officers as brave and committed professionals, and an online fundraiser for their families has raised more than £1.2 million.

Cole Worthy's funeral took place on the same day as the service for PC Blades, while the charges against Mr Worthy were confirmed on the day of PC Clough's funeral, which drew hundreds of mourners including serving officers and military veterans.

On the day of Cole Worthy's service, Sarah Moloney, a friend of the teenager's mother, shared a tribute online on behalf of the family, thanking attendees for their presence, hugs and kind words, adding: "Cole was so loved, and today showed us just how far that love reached. Thank you for walking this hard day with us."

Tensions had already been high in the area after a property in Acklam linked to the teenager was deliberately rammed following the collision, causing extensive damage.

The full circumstances of the crematorium disturbance and the condition of the alleged victim have not yet been released. Mr Worthy remains due in court next month, and I will report further developments as they emerge.