LOCAL people are being asked not to turn up uninvited to the funeral of a popular former mayor of Dudley this week.

The Funeral Directors are concerned that a large crowd might gather, which could lead to police intervention because of Covid rules being broken.

Currently funerals are limited to 30 attendees, but there have been cases of scores and scores of people turning up at the funeral of some well-known local people in other parts of the country.

Now Funeral Director William Downing, of Quarry Bank based J. T. Brookes & Co, is asking people not just to turn up at the funeral of Margaret Wilson, a very popular and well-known figure in Brierley Hill.

The former local shop owner was a long-serving Labour councillor for Brierley Hill and Mayor of Dudley from 2002-2003.

She died on February 4 at Comberton Nursing Home, Stourbridge, from Covid-19.

Her funeral takes place tomorrow (Wednesday) but Mr Downing has issued a plea for people not to turn up uninvited.

“ Our worry is that far more people turn up to the funeral and this not only puts everyone at risk but also us, the Funeral Directors, in the difficult position of trying to maintain social distancing and if this can’t be maintained contacting the police.

“ Should a large number of mourners turn up they potentially face being fined £250 each or the venue/funeral director been fined £10000.”

Margaret Wilson, who was 89, owned the Delph Stores with her husband Ken Wilson from 1963 and later in 1992 she started to work for Dudley Council after the death of her husband, who was also a Labour councillor for 24 years.

She retired from the council chamber in 2016.

She left a daughter Rona Lucas, four granddaughters, Kelly, Emma, Sally, Nikki, and four great-grandchildren.

Council Leader Patrick Harley and current Dudley mayor David Stanley, both Conservatives, paid tributes to her as a much loved and respected councillor.