Sons of PC Matthew Blades to lead Manchester United out as mascots after Teesside crash

On Sunday at Old Trafford, the two sons of PC Matthew Blades will lead Manchester United out as mascots for the Premier League match against Ipswich, the club said. PC Blades was one of two officers killed in a crash on Teesside early on 22 August.

PC Matthew Blades was a regular at Old Trafford and his widow will attend the game with their children. He and PC Tom Clough died in a head-on collision between their police car and a vehicle travelling the wrong way on the A66 near Middlesbrough. Five occupants of the other vehicle also died in the incident.

"Matthew was a proud Red, a devoted family man and a police officer who dedicated his life to helping others," said the club, in a tribute in the programme.

On Saturday, a minute's applause was held in memory of PC Blades and PC Clough before Middlesbrough's Championship encounter with West Brom at the Riverside Stadium. Pictures of the two officers were displayed on a screen during that tribute.

Supporters also gathered to pay their respects at Seaton Carew FC's game against FC Hartlepool, where Blades had been involved as a junior football coach. The local matches drew those connected to the clubs where he had volunteered.

Police investigations have continued: earlier this week 17 people were arrested in connection with the crash, bringing the total number of arrests to 24. The occupants of the other vehicle who died were named as Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Jacob Matusiak, 23, Makai Saddington, 18, Theo Rae, 17, and Cole Robert Worthy, 17.

United paid tribute to Blades in Sunday's match programme and said they learned of the deaths of the two officers "with great sadness".