Lawless youths torch field of cars in warped tribute to victim of A66 crash: As hundreds of extra police are drafted into Middlesbrough amid fears of gang carnage, masked thugs show what they think of crackdown

A mob of youths torched several cars and set off fireworks at a balloon release for one of the A66 crash gang last night.

Teens in tracksuits gathered to remember Michael Cahill, 23 - one of the five men who died in a wrong-way crash with a police car that also killed two officers.

At least three cars were set ablaze in a horse field near Haswell, County Durham, with the startled animals looking on from the far side.

The site was around 15 miles from Middlesbrough, where a wave of violence believed to be linked to the crash and local organised crime has forced police to draft in hundreds of reinforcements. 

Footage posted to social media showed a gang of bikers parked in the middle of the field revving their engines while car horns blared continuously.

Cars were first driven erratically around the field, throwing up mud and crashing through hedges, before some were parked and set alight to whoops from the crowd.

Dozens of hooded youths set off blue smoke flares and fireworks, and released balloons spelling out 'Michael' into the sky.

Clips of the antics posted online were captioned 'Rest in peace Micky'.

Several cars were set ablaze by hooded youths in a field near Haswell, ten miles from the outskirts of Middlesborough

The cars burned in several spots around the field

Clips of the cars skidding around the field were captioned 'Rest in peace Micky', apparently in reference to Michael Cahill, one of the A66 fatalities

The chaotic scenes broke out at a memorial organised for Michael Cahill, 23, who died in the A66 crash

A statement from Michael's mother called for different types of vehicles to gather

Many of the youngsters reached for their phones to film the blaze

Scores of blue balloons spelling out 'Michael' were released into the sky

Burnt-out shells were all the remained of the vehicles, surrounded by scorched grass

After the mob cleared, footage showed smoldering, burnt-out car shells lying on scorched grass.

Michael's mother had earlier called for 'bikes, jeeps, cars and quad [bikes]' to gather for her son's send-off.

She wrote on social media on Thursday morning: 'Change of plans Michael's balloon release Thursday Peterlee White House opposite on field, come on lads bikes, jeeps, cars, quads give him send off her deserves'.

The Daily Mail understands that the County Durham and Darlington Fire Service responded to the incident.

Locals reported the horses were 'absolutely terrified' by the scenes unfolding in their field.

It comes as hundreds of extra police were drafted into nearby Middlesbrough on Thursday to restore order, amid fears the town was on the brink of descending into a gang war.

Violence, believed to be linked to five young men who were killed in a wrong-way crash on the A66 on Saturday, has spiralled across Teesside.

On Thursday afternoon, armed police swarmed a house on the Bankfield estate in Eston after a 39-year-old man was injured in a stabbing.

A house was also rammed by a vehicle this morning in South Bank - near where the crash happened.

The suspected knife attack took place just down the road from a suspicious house fire in Grangetown that claimed the lives of Valentina Foster, seven, and 34-year-old Natalie McDonald yesterday morning.

Two men, aged 31 and 23, have been arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in custody.

Cleveland Police said it was 'keeping an open mind' regarding the cause of the house fire but could not 'rule out any links to wider organised crime at this time'.

The force, which is one of the smallest in the country, has seen its resources stretched to breaking point this week.

The Government has now responded with 200 reinforcements after MPs in the area appealed for help.

The decision was announced by Councillor Alec Brown of Redcar and Cleveland Council in a post on social media.

'Over 200 extra police officers from forces around the country are here and are en route, from detectives to armed response,' he wrote.

'I will be sending a letter today to our Prime Minister asking for even more resources.'

'People need to feel safe in their homes,' Mr Brown added.

Middlesbrough has the highest crime rate in England excluding central London, and rival criminal groups have been spreading fear among residents.

Former mayor Andy Preston said the town was 'on its knees' – as he warned attacks between criminal gangs could escalate further in response to the house fire.