PC Blades, 37, and colleague PC Tom Clough, 38, died when their Cleveland Police vehicle was hit by a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way along the A66, in South Bank, near Middlesbrough, in the early hours of August 22.
Father-of-two PC Blades, who was “described as bringing light and laughter into every room”, was a respected football coach at two Hartlepool junior football clubs.
His funeral service at St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, in Hutton Avenue, in Hartlepool, was attended by standard bearers representing every United Kingdom police force.
Five males travelling in the Volkswagen Passat also lost their lives in the crash.
The media was given permission to observe and photograph the cortege as it arrived for Wednesday morning’s service.
1. Sad farewell
Police outside St Joseph's Church, in Hutton Avenue, Hartlepool, ahead of the funeral of PC Matthew Blades, inset, who was one of two officers killed in a crash on the A66 on August 22. Photo: Other 3rd Party
2. Sad farewell
A police officer holds the helmets of her colleagues acting as pall bearers at the funeral of PC Blades. Photo: Owen Humphreys
4. Sad farewell
Police officers console each other outside St Joseph's Roman Catholic Church. Photo: Owen Humphreys