Four schools in Middlesbrough are closing early on Friday ahead of the funeral of Jakub Matusiak, 23, one of five young men killed alongside two police officers in a crash on the A66 last month. The decision has drawn criticism from Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott, who accused headteachers of 'giving in to thugs' and called on Education Secretary Lucy Powell to intervene, arguing the Government should ensure 'criminal gangs don't get their way'.

PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, died on 22 August when a Volkswagen Passat being pursued by police struck a marked armed response car while travelling the wrong way down the A66; also killed were Jakub Matusiak, Cole Worthy, 17, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and Michael Cahill, 23, four of whom had prior criminal convictions. South Bank Primary School, Outwood Academy Normanby, Archway Academy Teesville and St Margaret Clitherow's Catholic Primary School will close at midday, with the Mackenzie Thorpe Centre shut all day, after local authorities cited fears of traffic congestion and disruption from crowds, motorbikes and quad bikes expected in South Bank. The move follows an earlier vigil for Cahill in Haswell, County Durham, at which cars were set alight, and a memorial for Matusiak that saw fireworks let off and balaclava-clad bikers intimidate residents.