Multiple people have died following a collision involving a police vehicle and a Volkswagen Passat on the A66 near South Bank, Cleveland Police have confirmed.

The fatal crash took place in the early hours of this morning, with emergency services alerted to the incident at around 3.39am.

Following the collision, police closed the A66 in both directions along the stretch between Normanby Road and Church Lane.

A spokesman for Cleveland Police set out the initial details of the incident: "Around 3:39am this morning, a collision took place involving a police vehicle and a Volkswagen Passat on the A66 in South Bank."

The force subsequently confirmed the loss of life at the scene, with the spokesperson stating: "Sadly, the collision has resulted in multiple fatalities."

Emergency teams remain deployed along the dual carriageway in substantial numbers. The force noted that there are "significant emergency vehicles on the scene, and the road will remain closed for some time."

Motorists across the area are being urged to steer clear of the section between Normanby Road and Church Lane, with the spokesman adding: "The public are asked to use alternative routes."

Officers are now focused on notifying loved ones before releasing further details. "We are working to identify the victims and contact their families," the spokesperson said.

The force has also urged people not to spread unconfirmed rumours online as the investigation begins. "This is a quickly evolving incident and we ask that members of the public respectfully avoid speculation," the spokesman said.

What we do not know yet is the exact number of people who lost their lives, the identities of those involved, or the events immediately preceding the impact. Cleveland Police have not yet released additional details regarding how the collision occurred.

The road is set to stay closed while emergency services complete their work at the scene. I'll be following this one — check back for updates.