MIDDLESBROUGH SCHOOLS CLOSE EARLY FOR SECOND FUNERAL AFTER A66 CRASH

A number of schools in Middlesbrough will close early on Monday for the funeral of Theo Rae, 17, one of five young people who died in a crash on the A66 near Middlesbrough on 22 August. The vehicle travelled the wrong way down the road and collided with an oncoming Cleveland Police car, killing seven people in total, including two police officers. Middlesbrough Council said schools had chosen to close to ensure safe transit home for pupils, citing the possibility of localised traffic disruption. The funeral will take place at Teesside Crematorium in Acklam, with the cortege expected to travel through Middlesbrough before moving to St Bede's Chapel on Acklam Road.

Cleveland Police identified Ladgate Lane, Ormesby Road, Cargo Fleet Lane and Acklam Road as areas likely to be affected. Superintendent John Wrintmore stated that the police force had not recommended the school closures and said officers would maintain a proportionate visible presence to ensure public safety. Schools in the neighbouring South Bank area closed early on Friday for the funeral of Jakub Matusiak, another of those who died in the crash. Police said that funeral "passed without issue" and caused "very minimal traffic disruption". Education Secretary Lucy Powell said she trusted headteachers to make decisions to keep their communities safe.

Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party, criticised the decision to close schools a second time, describing it as "obscene" and calling on Powell to intervene. Badenoch stated that the Labour government had failed to stop the closures happening again. A spokesperson for Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council said the decision for last week's funeral was made "after careful consideration of the potential impact on home-to-school transport".