King Charles sends letters to families of police officers killed in A66 tragedy

The families of the two Cleveland Police officers who lost their lives in the A66 tragedy last weekend have received personal letters of condolence from King Charles III.

According to the Mirror, the monarch conveyed his deepest sympathy to the widows of PC Tom Clough, 38, and PC Matthew Blades, 37.

Charles was keen to lend his voice to what has become a remarkable outpouring of public solidarity for the pair, who "made the ultimate sacrifice" whilst serving on duty.

Seven people including two police officers ‌died in a car crash in northeast England on Saturday after a car heading the wrong way down a major road hit a marked police armed response car.

Cleveland Police said the incident occurred near ⁠the South Bank area east of Middlesbrough and that all occupants of the two vehicles died at the scene.

The Cleveland Police Federation's GoFundMe campaign for the officers' families has raised £1,123,876, closing in on its £1.2million target.

A second, separate fundraising effort has also gathered nearly £52,000.

Charles was keen to lend his voice to what has become a remarkable outpouring of public solidarity for the pair, who "made the ultimate sacrifice" whilst serving on duty.