Schools to close early for A66 crash funeral

Supt John Wrintmore from Cleveland Police said there was potential for traffic disruption and delays from 15:00 to 17:00 on Friday.

“This will affect areas of South Bank, Normanby Road through Teesville, Ormesby and Marton, and Acklam Road,” he said.

“We are working closely with highways departments from the local authority, who are leading on the traffic management for this event, in order to minimise disruption.

“As with any significant gathering, we have plans in place to ensure public safety and security, which is line with our usual process.”

A spokesperson for Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council said: “A number of schools in the South Bank area will close earlier than usual on Friday afternoon due to anticipated traffic congestion and transport disruption associated with a local funeral taking place in the area.

“The decision was made after careful consideration of the potential impact on home-to-school transport and the departure of pupils, staff and families at the end of the school day.

“Schools have worked with the Local Authority and transport providers to consider arrangements for pupils, including those who travel to and from specialist educational settings.

“We recognise that early closure may cause inconvenience for some parents and carers, and we thank them for their understanding and cooperation.”