Motorists are facing massive delays as hundreds of mourners attend a Traveller's funeral in Blacon.

Police are urging drivers to avoid the area as the procession makes its way towards Chester Crematorium at 2pm today (Friday, January 30).

Blacon Avenue, between Parkgate Roundabout and Saughall Road, is currently closed for safety reasons until 2.30pm – a local diversion is in place for emergency services, local residents and businesses.

Police are tweeting advice to motorists and are currently in the area dealing with traffic issues, the force helicopter is also circling overhead.

Some residents have taken to social media sites to ask who is paying for the policing operation for the funeral, with some asking Cheshire Constabulary and MP Stephen Mosley to reveal the cost.

A spokesperson for Cheshire Police said: "The purpose of their presence is to minimise traffic delays in the local area as much as possible, helping to ensure that local residents and businesses are able to go about their day to day work as normal."

Stagecoach have tweeted customers to apologise for potential delays due to the road closures.

Hundreds of members of the Gypsy and Traveller community are said to have travelled from all over the country to attend the funeral of a grandfather, named by friends as Pudgie Evans, who tragically died earlier this month after being electrocuted while collecting scrap metal.

Mr Evans who was said to be 54-years-old and lived in Elton, died at the Countess of Chester Hospital after the high crane he was using struck an overhead power cable, giving him a severe electric shock during the accident at a farm in Ince.

Residents living in Blacon received a letter from Cheshire West and Chester Council advising them of potential disruption as the procession makes its way from Parklands in Elton to Holy Trinity Church.

The letter, posted by residents on facebook, was written by the Gypsy and Traveller co-ordinator Dawn Taylor and advises residents of road closures. Police have also released details of the procession and one resident believed between 1,500 and 2,000 people were anticipated to attend.

The funeral procession left Parklands in Elton at 12pm arriving at Holy Trinity Church at 12.30pm, before heading to Blacon Crematorium for 2pm.