ANGRY residents have written to police and their MP to complain after hundreds attended a traveller funeral in their town.

More than 100 people were seen attending a burial service at Spring Garden Cemetery in Abingdon last Wednesday.

Residents said that cars were parked on their driveways, as well as blocking the street, which resulted in some NHS workers not being able to get to work.

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Another resident also said a person who attended the funeral defecated in their garden.

The letter questioned how this mass funeral was allowed to take place when 'large gatherings are currently illegal'.

It also said that, when a resident spoke to a police officer at the event, the officer said he was 'powerless to intervene'.

The letter asked three main questions to the Police and Crime Commissioner.

The first question was how the large funeral was permitted, considering no more than six people are allowed to meet outside and only 30 people can attend funerals.

It also asked, if the funeral was permitted by the police, why alternative parking arrangements were not put in place.

The final question asked, if the police knew of the event ahead of the day, why residents were given no advanced warning.

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The letter was also sent to Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran.

Residents said they understood that the police were expecting '300 people' to attend the event.

The Government-enforced coronavirus restrictions mean that no more than 30 people can attend a funeral or burial, whether it is indoors or outdoors.

For other mourning ceremonies such as a wake, stone setting, or sprinkling of someone's ashes, only 15 people can attend, whether this takes place indoors or outdoors.

Police said they had advanced warning of the funeral and tried to stop hundreds from attending.

Before the burial, the police tried to remind those planning of attending of the current coronavirus restrictions.

The police force did admit, however, that the gathering was much 'larger than anticipated'.

Police officers did attend the scene to try to manage the impact on the local community and road network.

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Thames Valley Police said it was looking into a number of offences that were committed under the Road Traffic Act.

The force also said that there were some reports of anti-social behaviour, however, because of the 'unexpected large numbers' of people who attended 'from outside the force area' it has not been possible to trace those who attended or to 'enforce the regulations'.

Oxford Mail:

A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police, said: “A funeral took place in Spring Road yesterday afternoon involving members of a family from outside of the Thames Valley.

“We had been notified of the burial before it happened, and sought to remind those involved of the requirements under covid regulations.

"However, as those attending were travelling from outside of the Thames Valley area, details of the numbers who ended up travelling as part of the cortege had not been confirmed to us, and were larger than anticipated.

“Our officers were in attendance to manage the impact on the local community and the road network.

“They carried out enforcement activity with regards to four vehicles which obstructed the highway and we are pursuing offences under the Road Traffic Act.

“Some residents were affected by the obstruction of the highway, however overall there was no further impact on the wider community.

Read more about this story here: Police tried to stop hundreds attending traveller funeral

“We are aware of some reports of anti-social behaviour but no individuals could be traced in relation to these reports.

“Thames Valley Police remains committed to engaging with the public around coronavirus restrictions, and enforcing where necessary. However, on this occasion, due to the unexpectedly large numbers who attended from outside the force area, it has not been possible for officers to trace those who attended or to enforce the regulations.”

Funerals in the traveller community often have hundreds of people attending the event. In 2013, more than 1,000 people attended one such funeral in Wantage.