Several schools are set to close their doors early this week due to a funeral for one of five young men killed in a head-on smash with a police car on the A66 in Middlesbrough.
Jakub Matusiak’s funeral will take place on Friday at St John the Evangelist Church on Normanby Road in South Bank.
Matusiak was one of five occupants of a Volkswagen Passat who died in the head-on collision with a marked Cleveland Police armed response vehicle on the A66 on August 22.
The crash claimed seven lives in total, including serving officers PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough.
Several schools have now agreed with the local council to stagger closing times because large crowds are expected to cause congestion and transport disruption.
Sign up for all of the latest stories
Start your day informed with Metro's newsletter or get alerts the moment it happens.
Archway Academy Teesville, South Bank Primary School, Outwood Academy Normanby, St Margaret Clitherow’s Catholic Primary School and Mackenzie Thorpe School are just some of the schools which will face partial and full closures.
Parents and carers have been advised to collect children from their usual collection points when their school closes, as children who usually walk home alone can leave at the earlier time as normal.
Matusiak’s funeral comes after a rowdy memorial was held for him near the crash site in South Bank, featuring orange balloons, fireworks and balaclava-clad bikers, which sparked outrage online.
Funerals of three of the other victims of the crash, Cole Worthy, Theo Rae and Makai Saddington, will also take place in the coming days.
Police investigations into the circumstances of the collision are continuing.
Earlier this week, a fundraiser launched for the families of the two Cleveland Police officers reached its target, surpassing £1.2 million.
44,000 people donated to the campaign, created by the Cleveland Police Federation, which raised £1,203,932.
Organisers said money raised would be split equally between the two officers’ families, while the federation would continue to provide support.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
MORE: I’m a teacher – pupils in exclusion breaks my heart
MORE: Moment boy racer crashes into garden – seconds after seriously injuring 74-year-old man
MORE: Boy, 16, sentenced for stabbing teacher in head after asking about homework