A CAVALCADE of vehicles wound its way through the country roads around Malvern this week for the funeral of a local traveller.

Hundreds of mourners turned out on Monday to pay their respects to Pearl Hodgkins, aged 48, who died after a stroke on Saturday, October 12.

Dozens of vehicles of all shapes and sizes followed the funeral cortege from the family home on Blackmore Park Road to St Gabriel's Church, in Hanley Swan, where a service was held.

The convoy, which included a horse and cart and flatbed lorries carrying floral tributes, then headed slowly back to Malvern, passing through Barnards Green on the way to Great Malvern Cemetery, where the burial took place.

The Rev Frances Wookey, vicar of St Gabriel's, said that although the turnout was large, it was not unusual for a traveller's funeral.

"She was obviously somebody that was greatly loved by a large number of people in the community," she said.

Police were in attendance at various points on the route to keep watch over the procession, which was estimated to number around 100 vehicles.

"We were aware of the funeral beforehand," said police spokesman Kim Stain.