Police break up group of 100 Wiganers attending funeral fund-raising event

Around 100 people who gathered for a funeral fund-raising and memorial event at the weekend were asked to leave the area by police due to Covid-19 restrictions.
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Mourners had gathered in Platt Bridge on Saturday, September 19 to pay their respects to a friend who had recently died in a collision.

However, despite the best intentions of everyone in attendance, officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) attended to enforce the current Covid-19 restrictions which prohibit more than six people meeting up in public or at households.

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Officers said everyone complied fully with their requests, and left the area promptly.

Officers sent home around 100 people who had gathered for a fund-raising eventOfficers sent home around 100 people who had gathered for a fund-raising event
Officers sent home around 100 people who had gathered for a fund-raising event

A statement from GMP said: "Police were called at around 6.30pm on Saturday 19 September, to a report of a large gathering in Platt Bridge, Wigan where around 100 people were present.

"The group had gathered to raise funds for a funeral in order to commemorate a recent death due to a collision that happened in Greater Manchester.

"The officers who attended engaged and explained with the group to clarify the current COVID-19 regulations. The group complied and dispersed."

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It is believed the event was held in memory of Kyle Croston, an 18-year-old who lost his fight for life on Sunday, September 13. He suffered serious injuries when his off-road motorbike collided with a tree on Warrington Road, Ince, on August 30.

Family and friends had launched an online fund-raiser in his memory, and also organised a day of fund-raising activities, to be held last Saturday. The planned activities included a football match in Woodcock Drive, to raise money for Kyle's funeral costs.

There are exceptions where groups can be larger than six people, which include funerals, weddings and protests. Full details can be found at gov.uk.