Middlesbrough supporters held a minute’s applause before their home match against West Bromwich Albion to honour Cleveland Police constables Matthew Blades and Tom Clough, who were killed while on duty in a crash on the A66. The tribute, shown on stadium screens and joined by players and fans, recognised the officers’ service to the local community amid a particularly difficult period for the force.

Pc Blades, 37, and Pc Clough, 38, died last Saturday when their police vehicle collided head-on with a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way near South Bank. Five other people also died: Cole Worthy and Theo Rae, both 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and Michael Cahill and Jakub Matusiak, both 23; the King has reportedly sent condolences to the officers’ families.