Four schools in the Middlesbrough area will close early on Friday over safety and congestion concerns as mourners gather for the funeral of 23-year-old Jakub Matusiak, who was killed in a collision on the A66.

The funeral service for Mr Matusiak, who was also known as Jacob, is taking place at St John’s Church on Normanby Road in South Bank. Local authorities anticipate significant crowds in the area, with large numbers of mourners expected to attend, including motorbike and quad-bike riders.

With substantial disruption expected on the surrounding road network, local schools and council officials have stepped in to rearrange the school day so pupils are not caught in heavy traffic or exposed to safety risks at home time.

South Bank Primary School confirmed it will finish at 12pm on Friday. Head teacher Tammy Cooper told parents the decision was taken to protect the "safety and wellbeing of pupils and staff", noting that the large gathering on Normanby Road would inevitably affect local traffic.

Ms Cooper also acknowledged that the funeral could be distressing for some children, confirming that the school's pastoral team would be on hand to support pupils who feel anxious about the event.

Outwood Academy in Normanby is also closing its doors from midday. Principal Mark Robinson told families the early finish followed discussions between headteachers and council representatives.

Redcar and Cleveland Council confirmed several schools across the South Bank area are finishing earlier than usual. The local authority said schools have worked directly with transport providers to adjust schedules, including for children who rely on home-to-school transport.

Council officials acknowledged the early closures could cause inconvenience for parents and carers, but emphasised that the decision was reached after assessing how to ensure the safe departure of pupils, families and staff.

Mr Matusiak died alongside four other young men when a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way along the A66 collided head-on with a marked police vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene along with Cole Worthy, 17, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and Michael Cahill, 23.

Two police officers inside the marked police car, 37-year-old PC Matthew Blades and 38-year-old PC Tom Clough, were also killed, bringing the total death toll from the crash to seven.

Friday's funeral follows a vigil held last week for Mr Cahill in Haswell, County Durham, which drew criticism from MPs and police after several vehicles were set on fire.

What we don't yet know is the full scale of the crowd that will gather on Normanby Road, but local services have put these measures in place to minimise disruption as friends and family pay their respects. I'll be following this one — check back for updates.