Balloon releases organised for the five young men killed when their car collided with a police vehicle, an incident that also claimed the lives of two officers, have been described as "disgraceful" by local residents.
Cole Worthy, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and 23-year-olds Michael Robert Cahill and Jacob Matusiak were pronounced dead at the scene at South Bank, near Middlesbrough, in the early hours of Saturday.
The Volkswagen Passat they were travelling in went the wrong way down the A66 following a police chase, colliding with a marked armed response vehicle and killing Pc Matthew Blades, 37, and Pc Tom Clough, 38.
Balloon releases and flares at vigil
Balloon releases were organised for some of the people who died in the Passat. Flares were set off at a gathering on Monday afternoon for Jakub Matusiak.
Orange balloons were released into the sky during the vigil, accompanied by cheers. People wearing face coverings were pictured filling the sky with thick orange, red and blue smoke.
Asked about the balloon releases, locals said: "It's disgraceful, the tributes should just be for the bobbies who died."
Campaign group opposition
The event on Monday took place despite opposition from Stop Balloon Releases - North East UK - a campaign group that urged Middlesbrough Council to stop these kind of tributes due to potential threats to wildlife.
Speaking before the event, co-founder of the group, Lynne, said this would also be a "kick in the teeth" to the families of Pc Blades and Pc Clough.
Arrests and court appearances
Police investigations are continuing into the events surrounding Saturday's crash. Cleveland Police has now arrested a total of 17 people.
On Tuesday, the force said it had arrested five more people with the assistance of the National Crime Agency and the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit.
The force said they were a boy aged 16, an 18-year-old and a man of 21, all on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group; a 55-year-old on suspicion of assisting an offender and a 23-year-old on suspicion of making threats to kill.
Cleveland Police said two of the 12 people previously arrested have now appeared in court.
Kai Beattie, 19, of Foxrush Court, Redcar, appeared before Teesside Magistrates' Court charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, according to the force.
Cameron George, 26, of Micklow Close, Redcar, was remanded in custody to appear at Teesside Crown Court on September 21, charged with drugs offences and possession of criminal property, it said.
Police have previously said that the five young men in the Passat may have had links to "serious and organised criminal activity".
