
Police have attended a traveller funeral as mourners flouted social distance rules after they demanded the body back from the morgue and drove it 25 miles to a church in the back of an open Transit van.

Up to 60 grievers, some swigging beer, were watched by Bedfordshire Police during the service for a woman at Dunstable Cemetery, near Luton, at around 10am on Thursday.

The group was blatantly ignoring government lockdown rules on social distancing - brought in to tackle the deadly coronavirus - as they gathered around the plot.

Up to 60 grievers, some swigging beer, were watched by Bedfordshire Police during the service for a woman at Dunstable Cemetery at around 10am yesterday (pictured)

The group was blatantly flouting government lockdown rules on social distancing - brought in to tackle the deadly coronavirus - as they gathered around the plot. Pictured: The coffin being held in the back of a Transit van

The morgue holding the woman's body had allegedly told travellers they would not release it on Wednesday evening

A wake was held at one of the mourner's house in Sandy, central Bedfordshire, yesterday morning where up to 25 vans parked on the village green - despite there being space on the road (pictured)

Police watched the traveller funeral near Luton (pictured, on the scene) as two attendees were seen drinking beer

The morgue holding the woman's body had told travellers they would not release it on Wednesday night, but the group allegedly threatened to burn down the establishment if they did not.

A wake was held at one of the mourner's house in Sandy, central Bedfordshire, yesterday morning, where up to 25 vans parked on the village green despite there being space on the road.

A witness said: 'Look, I don't mind the travellers, but why would you park on the village green in your van, it's just disrespectful isn't it.'

After the meet up, the coffin was bundled into the back of a white Transit van.

The travellers completely flouted social distancing rules as they huddled around the cemetery in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, yesterday

One of the travellers involved in the ceremony is photograph swigging from a Budweiser bottle as he walks down a road

A youngster and a man wearing a suit are pictured in the back of the transit van as it made its way to the burial spot in Dunstable yesterday

En route to the site, one of the Ford Focuses reportedly tried to catch up with the rest of the procession and went the wrong way around a roundabout

The vehicle was understood to have been driven the 25 miles to Dunstable Cemetery with its doors ajar, while two youngsters 'held on to it for dear life'.

En route to the burial site, one of the Ford Focuses in the procession reportedly tried to catch up with the others and went the wrong way around a roundabout.

It was said to have smashed into an oncoming car, but allegedly drove off and only stopped further down the road when it broke down.

The witness said: 'It's just traveller madness as usual isn't it in fairness.'

The Transit was understood to have been driven the 25 miles to Dunstable Cemetery (pictured, the service) with its back doors ajar, while two youngsters 'held on to it for dear life'

A woman involved in the service carries a bouquet of flowers which read 'Nanny' towards the cemetery in Bedfordshire

When the van (pictured) got to the cemetery, an unmarked police car with three plain-clothed officers was understood to be waiting for them

When the van got to the cemetery, an unmarked police car with three plain-clothed officers was understood to be waiting for them.

But the service was allowed to get underway, with up to 60 mourners crammed around the plot near Luton.

More police rocked up and officers watched the service, with two of the travellers seen drinking from Budweiser bottles.

The witness added: 'Look I get it's a funeral and I have full respect for them and it's very sad someone's died ultimately, but it's just their behaviour. But obviously they don't give a flying hoot.'

Bedfordshire Police Chief Inspector Lee Haines said: 'We were made aware of plans for a funeral due to take place in Dunstable yesterday (Thursday) and worked with the local authority, the cemetery, and the family, to ensure that mourners could attend to pay their respects while following social distancing measures in line with the latest government guidelines in relation to funerals.

'Our officers were on duty in the vicinity of the cemetery on the day of the funeral, however, they received no reports of offences being committed in relation to the funeral or the procession.

'One officer did attend the cemetery after the funeral had taken place to speak to staff about how the funeral had gone, however no concerns were raised and no police action was required.'

