POLICE are to work with council colleagues to tackle the issue of 'recklessly abandoned' vehicles in Wrexham, an Inspector has said.

North Wales Police was made aware that a Traveller funeral was to take place in Wrexham on Wednesday this week, with a large number of attendees expected.

Insp Luke Hughes said: "Officers were in attendance and did do what they could with the support of Wrexham Council to address the parking issues that we have when any large funeral takes place at St Marys Cathedral.

"Sadly over the years a culture has developed where attendees will abandon their vehicles recklessly around the immediate area which is entirely unnecessary as there is ample parking provision.

"North Wales Police and Wrexham Council are working together to address this.

"We have had some success in the past, but occasionally the numbers become overwhelming.

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"I will be making every effort to cone the area in the event of future funerals to make the point explicitly clear that abandoning vehicles in this way is wholly inappropriate and communicating this to attendees."

The influx of visitors to the city also prompted two Wetherspoon pubs to close for a time.

A spokesman for the company said: “The company became aware at short notice of a large-scale event taking place in the town [on Wednesday].

"Unfortunately, our two pubs The Elihu Yale and The North and South Wales Bank were unable to make arrangements in the time available for additional staff to safely accommodate the anticipated increase in customers. 

"As a result, the decision was taken to temporarily close both pubs for a period over lunchtime. 

"We apologise for the inconvenience caused to customers who wanted to use the pubs during that time.”

Michael Berry, 54, was an attendee at Wednesday's funeral.

He told the Leader there is not enough clearly signposted parking provision in the city centre for large scale funerals such as the one which took place this week.

"People who have never been to Wrexham in their life are turning up," he said.

"When it's known that five to six hundred people are coming, there should be signs put up saying 'funeral parking' - so they know where they are going.

"They just want to get to the church, and the car parks won't take all the cars.

"So they will park anywhere they can."