POLICE had to break up a large gathering of people in a Worcester street because they were breaching the lockdown restrictions.

Officers were called to Walnut Avenue, in the Brickfields area, on Thursday evening after dozens of people gathered to pay their respects to Marlon Vella on what would have been his 22nd birthday.

Mr Vella, a popular barber, died on April 27 after crashing into a tree in Droitwich while riding his motorbike.

Commenting on the gathering, Superintendent Sarah Chaloner said: “At just after 6.15pm on Thursday May 7 we received reports of a large gathering taking place in Brickfields, Worcester.

“Our officers who attended determined that it was a memorial gathering and spoke to a number of people. They explained that even though it was clearly a difficult and sensitive time, the government legislation states that large gatherings cannot take place at the moment due to COVID-19 and that social distancing rules must be adhered to.

“The majority of those attending dispersed quickly and there were no further concerns or issues later that evening.”

Mr Vella, who ran VellaCutz in Fernhill Heath, was a beloved figure in the Worcester community. Tributes flooded in for him after his death.

A police car was driving behind Mr Vella at the time of the fatal crash on April 27 and so the incident has been reported to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Shortly after the collision, Superintendent Steph Brighton said: “We are aware that there is some natural speculation in the community surrounding the circumstances of this incident and the proximity of a police car.

“The officer was responding to a separate incident at the time. However, due to the proximity of the police car, we have referred the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, as is standard practice.

“We cannot even begin to imagine how difficult this is for the young man’s family and our thoughts are with them and his friends.”

READ MORE: Tributes to Marlon Vella

READ MORE: Residents call police over large street gathering in Brickfields