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The Independent Office for Police Conduct has launched an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the crash

King Charles has personally written letters of condolence to the families of the two Cleveland Police officers who lost their lives in the A66 tragedy last weekend.

The monarch conveyed his deepest sympathy to the widows of PC Tom Clough, 38, and PC Matthew Blades, 37, according to the Mirror.

Charles was keen to lend his voice to what has become a remarkable outpouring of public solidarity for the pair, who "made the ultimate sacrifice" whilst serving on duty.

The officers were killed in the early hours of Saturday, August 22, when their marked armed response vehicle was struck head-on by a Volkswagen Passat travelling in the wrong direction along the A66 dual carriageway at South Bank, near Middlesbrough.

The collision occurred at 03:39 BST. All five occupants of the Passat were also pronounced dead at the scene.

Those killed in the Passat were named as Cole Worthy, 17; Theo Rae, 17; Makai Saddington, 18; and two 23-year-olds, Michael Robert Cahill and Jacob Matusiak.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct has launched an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the crash following a mandatory referral from Cleveland Police. The collision came after a police pursuit, according to the Express.

Cleveland Police confirmed that the families of the five Passat occupants are receiving support from officers.

In the wake of the crash, 17 individuals were detained as part of investigations into suspected organised crime. On Friday, Cleveland Police announced that Kai Inico, who was taken into custody on Monday on suspicion of involvement in an organised crime group, has been charged with possession with intent to supply a class B drug.

Four others arrested on Monday have since been released on bail.

The Cleveland Police Federation's GoFundMe campaign for the officers' families has raised £1,123,876, closing in on its £1.2million target. A second, separate fundraising effort has also gathered nearly £52,000.

The federation's appeal was set up with the message that both men "were both dedicated and committed Police Officers who left their families and went to work to serve their community and protect the public."

It added: "They leave behind heartbroken loved ones who will struggle to come to terms with their loss."

Lauren Somerville, who chairs the Cleveland Police Federation, said the organisation was "simply staggered" by the scale of the public's generosity.

The federation earlier this week described PC Blades and PC Clough as more than just colleagues, calling them "friends, teammates and valued members of the policing family," and expressing hope that the extraordinary level of donations might make the officers' families' futures "just that little bit easier."

PC Blades' wife paid tribute to him earlier this week, describing him as a "beloved husband" and "most devoted father." She said: "He may have left this world committed to the duty he believed in, but his greatest legacy will always be the love he gave to his family," adding that he would be "forever our super hero."

PC Clough, who previously served in the Army, leaves behind a partner.

An inquest held on Thursday established that both officers sustained fatal head and neck injuries when the wrong-way Passat collided with their marked vehicle on the dual carriageway.

The hearing also revealed the harrowing ordeal faced by the officers' loved ones in the aftermath.

PC Blades' wife was required to formally identify her husband's body, while PC Clough's partner carried out the same devastating task for him.