Funeral held for second hero police officer killed in horror A66 crash as tributes paid to former soldier who 'fought to make the world a better place'

Hundreds of police officers have been joined by military personnel to pay tribute to an officer killed in the Middlesbrough A66 crash who 'fought to make the world a better place'.

PC Tom Clough, 38, served in the British Army for six years until 2012, latterly as a bomb disposal expert, before joining Cleveland Police where he worked as a firearms officer.

The constable, who lived with his girlfriend and their beloved dachshund Frank, undertook tours in Iraq and Afghanistan before his career in the police.

He was killed alongside his colleague, PC Matt Blades, 37, when a Volkswagen Passat which was being driven the wrong way down a dual carriageway collided with their armed response vehicle.

The five teens and young men in the Passat, which was using a cloned number plate, were also killed instantly in the smash in the early hours of August 22.

Following the crash, dozens of people were arrested on suspicion of being linked to an organised crime group plaguing the Teesside area while memorials to the five men killed saw cars burned and residents intimidated by balaclava-wearing youths.

At a police ceremonial funeral for PC Clough today in a Grade II-listed walled garden in the village of Kirkleatham, near Redcar in North Yorkshire, dozens of well-wishers gathered to pay their respects alongside police and military figures.

The service was held just three miles from the scene of the horrific crash which claimed the officers' lives.

Police officers line the street ahead of the funeral at Kirkleatham Walled Gardens in Redcar 

The cortege arrives at Kirkleatham Walled Gardens in Redcar for the funeral of PC Tom Clough

Police officers hug each other before the funeral of PC Tom Clough in Redcar today

The coffin of Pc Tom Clough arrives with his police helmet, medals and epaulette on display 

Police officers line the street ahead of the funeral at Kirkleatham Walled Gardens in Redcar

Police Constable Tom Clough was given full police honours at his funeral in Redcar today

It came a day after a police ceremonial funeral for PC Blades which saw more than 1,000 officers line the streets of his hometown of Hartlepool.

As the hearse carrying PC Clough's coffin, draped in a Union Jack, passed standard bearers waving flags representing every police force in the country, many officers kept their heads bowed or wiped tears from their eyes.

The procession got underway with four police officers on horseback who were followed by officers on motorcycles and in an armed response vehicle representing Cleveland Police's Matrix team – a specialist unit dealing with serious and organised crime home to PC Clough and PC Blades.

Gerald Templeton, 76, travelled by bicycle to the rural service from his home in Redcar.

The retired panel beater said: 'I've just got total respect for them [police officers] and the tough job they have got these days.

'I'm full of admiration for all of them. I came down here especially for the funeral. The whole thing is absolutely heartbreaking.

'The service won't bring the poor soul back but at least we have been able to show our respects.'

He added: 'The kids round here are getting out of control. It feels like the country is out of control.'

The hearse carrying the coffin of PC Tom Clough arrives at Kirkleatham Walled Gardens

Police officers pay their respects ahead of the funeral of PC Tom Clough in Redcar today

Police officers line the street as the cortege arrives at Kirkleatham Walled Gardens in Redcar

Police officers pay their respects ahead of the funeral of PC Tom Clough in Redcar today

Members of the public arrive to pay their respects ahead of the funeral of PC Tom Clough

Anita Tinsley, 55, of Redcar, also attended to pay her respects.

She said: 'I come from a police family, my dad was an inspector, so I know the worry that every officer's loved ones feel when they go to work.

'Sadly, these two young men paid the ultimate price for their service and it's only right that they are remembered in the right way.

'I wanted to come along to pay my own respects and to show that the police are valued. The turnout today shows that the vast majority of people feel the same.'

Cleveland Police chief constable Victoria Fuller, policing minister Sarah Jones and Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen were among those in attendance.

PC Clough also served with the Civil Nuclear Police and British Transport Police.

His most recent unit in the Army was 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search Regiment of the Royal Logistic Corps. He was a lance corporal. 

In a statement released shortly after his death, PC Clough's family said: 'He was our hero with a fantastic sense of humour who jumped into action whenever needed, and was willing to help anyone for any reason.

The cortege arrives at Kirkleatham Walled Gardens in Redcar for the funeral of Pc Tom Clough

The coffin of Pc Tom Clough arrives with his police helmet, medals and epaulette on display

A police officer wears a badge embroidered with the names of two colleagues who were killed

Police Constable Matthew Blades was the other officer killed in the head-on smash on the A66

'He proudly fought for his country to make the world a better place. He was always on public duty throughout his short life.'

PC Clough's funeral coincided with the last funeral for the five men and teens in the Passat who also died in the crash.

Michael Cahill's service was held in the Peterlee area of County Durham. At a 'memorial' event for the 23-year-old in Haswell, County Durham, last month, five cars were set alight and fireworks and flares were released.

Writing on Facebook, his mother, Kelly Cahill, said: 'Nothing can change what choices you made in life but you were one of a kind and definitely 100 per cent kept me on my toes but I could never turn my back on you.'

Also killed in the crash were Theo Rae, 17, Jakub Matusiak, 23, Makai Saddington, 18, and Cole Worthy, 17.

The five are understood to have had links to organised crime in Teesside.