Cars set on fire at vigil after A66 crash as hundreds of extra police officers sent to Cleveland

Several cars have been set on fire at a vigil to remember one of the men killed in last weekend's wrong-way crash on the A66, according to reports.

Social media videos on Thursday appeared to show vehicles alight in Haswell, County Durham, where balloons, flares and fireworks were released in tribute to 23-year-old Michael Cahill.

Other footage seemed to show burnt-out cars being moved from the field, 20 miles north of the crash site, by a tractor.

Durham Constabulary said they were called to a private field soon after 5.30pm on Thursday, where five vehicles were wrecked as a large crowd gathered.

The crowd's behaviour was condemned as "completely unacceptable" by officers who said it was deemed safest to let the vehicles burn out. Nobody was injured and there were no arrests.

Labour MP for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East Andy McDonald described the spate of violence in the Middlesbrough area as "terrorism".

On Friday, remnants of fireworks, smoke canisters and balloons were scattered, with scorch marks visible on the ground. A section of a front bumper remained in place.

It comes as more than 200 extra officers have been drafted in to help Cleveland Police after multiple violent incidents across Middlesbrough.

A woman and a seven-year-old girl died in a house fire in Grangetown, near Middlesbrough, on Wednesday - just one mile away from where two police officers and five young men were killed in the head-on car crash on the A66 in South Bank early on Saturday.

Police said on Friday afternoon that they are not linking the house fire with the A66 crash.

A vehicle also crashed into a wall outside a house in Steele Crescent, South Bank, in the early hours of Thursday morning, minutes away from the two other scenes.

Alec Brown, leader of Redcar and Cleveland Council, said in a post on social media that authorities are "working 20-hour days to ensure the ongoing safety of innocent residents".

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

"I will be sending a letter today to our prime minister asking for even more resource."

Adding the police "really are doing an amazing job", he continued: "If it is any reassurance at all, jobs called in to the police are actually down this week, however, the seriousness of the ones that have been called in need serious and swift action."

Referring to the house fire, Mr Brown said: "Everyone is heartbroken over the loss of the aunt and little girl in Grangetown yesterday.

"People need to feel safe in their homes."

Redcar MP Anna Turley said in a Facebook post: "I know how worried people are, and understandably people want to know what is being done.

"There is a significant response under way, with additional officers and resources being brought into our area and agencies working together around the clock.

"People have a right to feel safe in their homes and in their communities. That is our absolute priority."

PCs Matthew Blades and Tom Clough died in the head-on collision with a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way on the A66 on Saturday. Inquests into the deaths opened on Thursday morning.

Cole Worthy, 17, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and 23-year-olds Michael Robert Cahill and Jakub Matusiak were also killed in the collision.

Police have arrested 17 people following the crash, as part of investigations into alleged organised crime. Two have been charged and the others have been bailed.

Meanwhile, two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder in relation to the house fire that killed Natalie McDonald, 34, and her niece Valentina Foster, and injured four others.

(c) Sky News 2026: Cars set on fire at vigil after A66 crash as hundreds of extra police officers sent to Clevel