Two police officers who died when a car travelling the wrong way down a dual carriageway crashed into their vehicle have been hailed as heroes by their families.

PC Tom Clough, 38, and PC Matthew Blades, 37, died when a Volkswagen Passat, which officers had been pursuing until seconds before, collided with their marked armed response car on the A66 near Middlesbrough on Saturday.

The Passat's occupants Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Jacob Matusiak, 23, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and Cole Robert Worthy, 17, also died.

In tributes released by Cleveland Police, PC Clough's family said he was "willing to help anyone", while PC Blades' wife described him as "loved beyond words".

"No words will ever feel like the right words to honour our Matt," she said, adding he was a "beloved husband" and the "most devoted father" to their two young sons who would grow up knowing what an "incredible" dad he was.

"He gave his life in the line of duty, protecting and serving others with courage, dedication and selflessness," she said.

"The pain of losing him is beyond words, and our lives will never be the same.

"Neither will the love he gave us ever fade.

"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."

She ended the tribute to her husband: "Forever loved. Forever missed. Forever our superhero. Our Matt and Dad."