Five vehicles were set alight in a farmer’s field near Haswell, County Durham, during a chaotic gathering held in memory of Michael Robert Cahill, 23, who died in Saturday morning’s horrific collision.

Footage shared on social media appeared to show masked youths driving cars around the field before abandoning them as flames began to consume the vehicles.

Blue flares were launched into the night sky while balloons spelling out “Michael” were released above the crowd.

Masked bikers could also be seen riding around the field, sounding their horns as the burning cars illuminated the gathering.

The disturbing scenes came just hours after police announced a major crackdown on escalating violence in and around Middlesbrough, with more than 200 officers being deployed to the area.

The vigil was reportedly attended by around two dozen young people initially, although footage suggested the gathering grew significantly.

The five vehicles were burned after being driven around the field, with cars apparently performing doughnuts and churning up the grass before being set alight.

It was not immediately clear who owned the vehicles or how they came to be at the scene.

Firefighters and police eventually arrived, but those attending the gathering had already dispersed, leaving the burning wrecks behind.

By the following morning, the field was littered with balloons, fireworks and smoke canisters.

Large scorch marks could be seen across the grass, while the remains of the vehicles were still smoking.

One of the wrecked cars was later moved away by a tractor, with the farmer apparently left to deal with the aftermath.

The extraordinary scenes have sparked anger among local residents, who are already living with heightened fears following a week of violence and tragedy.

Kate Dearden, the local MP, described the scenes as “absolutely horrendous”.

She said the events would understandably leave communities feeling frightened and called for police to be given the support needed to tackle those responsible.

“I want the police to get on with their investigation,” she said, adding that she wanted criminals removed from the streets so residents could feel safe.

One local resident described the vigil as frightening, saying children and animals had been disturbed by the noise.

“I was showing my niece the horses out the back of mine and they were terrified,” the resident said.

Another simply described the scenes as “absolutely disgusting”.

The gathering was held to remember Cahill, who was one of five occupants of a Volkswagen Passat killed when the car collided head-on with a police vehicle on the A66.

Cahill died alongside Theo Rae, 17, Cole Robert Worthy, 17, Jacob Matusiak, 23, and Makai Saddington, 18.

PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, were also killed in the crash.

The officers’ vehicle was travelling on the correct side of the dual carriageway when the Passat entered the A66 travelling against the flow of traffic.

The Passat had previously been pursued by police following reports of dangerous driving in Middlesbrough.

Police later abandoned the pursuit after the vehicle went onto the wrong side of the A66.

Just seconds later, it collided with the marked police car.

The crash has since become the centre of a major investigation into suspected organised criminal activity.

Cleveland Police has made 17 arrests as officers investigate events surrounding the fatal collision.

Several suspects were arrested on suspicion of participating in the activities of an organised crime group, while others were detained over alleged firearms and drug offences.

Police have also been investigating an earlier incident involving a Volvo XC60, which was allegedly used to ram properties in the Middlesbrough area.

Both the Volvo and the Passat were reportedly operating with cloned number plates.

Investigators believe the incidents may have been connected, although police have repeatedly stressed that inquiries are continuing.

The violence has taken an even darker turn following the death of seven-year-old Valentina Foster and her aunt Natalie McDonald, 34, in a house fire in Grangetown on Wednesday.

Two men, aged 23 and 31, were arrested on suspicion of murder following the blaze.

A 48-year-old woman was rescued from the burning property and remains in a critical condition, while three other people suffered injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening.

Police have not ruled out a connection between the fire and wider organised crime.

Superintendent Emily Harrison said officers were keeping an open mind and could not rule out links to criminal groups.

That warning has fuelled fears that the A66 crash may have triggered a cycle of revenge attacks.

Another property in South Bank was rammed by a vehicle in the early hours of Thursday, just a short distance from the area where Valentina died.

Police said the house was empty and no injuries were reported.

The latest incident was another reminder of the escalating tensions gripping the area.

Authorities have responded by dramatically increasing the police presence.

More than 200 additional officers, including armed police and detectives with experience tackling organised crime, have been deployed.

The operation follows concerns that rival groups could retaliate following the fatal crash and subsequent incidents.

The disturbing vigils held for those killed in the A66 collision have also become a source of controversy.

Earlier in the week, masked youths gathered in South Bank to honour Matusiak.

Hundreds of orange balloons were reportedly released because orange was said to have been his favourite colour.

Flares and fireworks were also set off, while young people on scooters, quad bikes and off-road motorcycles rode around the area.

The gathering was criticised as disrespectful given the circumstances surrounding the crash and the deaths of two police officers.

The latest Haswell vigil has taken the controversy even further, with cars apparently being deliberately destroyed as part of the tribute.

Cahill’s mother had previously encouraged friends and supporters to attend a memorial and bring “bikes, jeeps, cars and quads” to give her son what she described as the send-off he deserved.

But the decision to burn cars has raised fresh concerns about whether some of the gatherings are becoming opportunities for reckless behaviour rather than simple memorials.

The events are unfolding against the backdrop of a community already mourning nine deaths in less than a week.

Seven people died in the A66 collision.

Valentina and Natalie then died in the house fire.

Police are now attempting to establish whether these tragedies are connected or whether separate incidents have become entangled amid growing tensions between criminal groups.

The A66 investigation has also revealed troubling details about some of those who died.

Four of the five people in the Passat had previous convictions.

Worthy had admitted offences including assaulting a police officer, driving offences and failing to surrender to custody.

Matusiak had previously pleaded guilty to driving without a licence and without insurance.

Saddington had convictions involving possession of drugs and a knife, assaults on police officers and racially aggravated harassment.

Rae had admitted numerous offences including shoplifting, vehicle theft, thefts from vehicles, aggravated vehicle taking, cannabis possession and assaulting a police officer.

Cahill had no previous convictions.

Police are continuing to investigate what happened in the hours before the crash and whether the young men were involved in a confrontation with another group.

Meanwhile, officers are also examining the circumstances surrounding the Grangetown fire.

For local residents, the latest scenes have created a disturbing sense that the violence may not yet be over.

A memorial intended to honour a dead man ended with burning vehicles, flares and masked youths.

At the same time, armed police are patrolling streets where residents have already witnessed homes being rammed and a devastating fire that killed a child.

Cleveland Police has urged people with information to come forward and has promised a highly visible presence across the affected communities.

The force now faces the enormous task of determining what lies behind the escalating violence — and stopping the cycle before another tragedy strikes.

For a community already grieving the loss of seven people on the A66 and two innocent victims of the devastating house fire, the sight of cars being deliberately torched at a vigil is likely to deepen fears that Middlesbrough’s gang tensions are becoming increasingly difficult to contain.