Travellers flout social distancing rules as crowds flock to gypsy funeral despite warning that only 15 mourners could attend ceremony
- Large crowds gathered to attend a gypsy funeral in Thornaby, North Yorkshire despite ongoing lockdown
- Social distancing guidelines amid coronavirus meant only 15 people could attend the ceremony
- However a huge group of mourners turned up to the funeral to pay their respects to Jimmy Connors
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Advertisement
Travellers turned out in huge numbers to attend a funeral in Thornaby, North Yorkshire, in defiance of social distancing measures meant to prevent the spread of coronavirus across the UK.
Guidelines introduced by the government meant that the mourners were told only 15 people could be present for the ceremony, but dozens of attendees could be seen walking alongside the hearse.
Crowds reportedly began to gather around 9am and so many people came to pay respects that the funeral, planned for 1pm, did not begin until 1:40pm, with police watching over the event from afar.
In defiance of social distancing measures, a large crowd of travellers gathered to attend a gypsy funeral in Thornaby
A police van could be seen outside the cemetery keeping a close eye on the gathering that flouted the social distancing rules
Guidelines instructing people to keep two metres from each other were introduced in March as the coronavirus pandemic reached the UK, with a full nationwide lockdown initiated from March 23.
While Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to issue a statement on easing lockdown measures on Sunday night, they currently remain in place and include restrictions on mass gatherings for events such as weddings and funerals.
Large numbers of mourners could be seen walking alongside the hearse on its journey to the cemetery
The number of mourners in attendance meant that the service was delayed by 40 minutes