The sons of a police officer killed in a crash on the A66 have walked out as matchday mascots for Manchester United.

The tribute follows a fatal collision that claimed the lives of two serving Cleveland Police officers in the early hours of Saturday morning.

PC Matthew Blades, aged 37, and PC Tom Clough, aged 38, were both killed when their marked armed response vehicle was involved in a collision in South Bank, Middlesbrough.

According to reports, the incident occurred along the A66 when a Volkswagen Passat collided directly with the marked police vehicle during their shift.

Both officers were serving members of Cleveland Police, carrying out duties in the force's armed response unit at the time the incident took place.

Following the loss, the sons of one of the officers were invited to step onto the pitch alongside the Manchester United team as club mascots.

It is a gesture that brought national attention to the incident, highlighting the direct impact on the families left behind after the fatal collision on Teesside.

What remains unclear from initial reports are the full circumstances leading up to the collision between the Volkswagen Passat and the armed response vehicle, including the conditions on the road during the early hours.

Authorities have not yet released further public details regarding potential inquiries or subsequent proceedings following the fatal crash.

As more confirmed information is released by investigators and emergency services, we will see a clearer picture of how the incident unfolded.

I'll be following this one closely — check back for updates as soon as more details emerge.