Police issue statement on off-road bikes across Sheffield at Willy Collins funeral

Hundreds of mourners gathered in the Darnall and Pitsmoor areas for the lavish funeral of former bare knuckle boxer Willy Collins, 49, with a fleet of Rolls Royce cars, a huge American truck, bikers and vintage cars forming part of the massive cortege as it snaked around the city.

South Yorkshire Police say they are now investigating reports of mourners riding off road bikes before and during the funeral of the dad of nine.

A spokesman said: “Before and following the funeral of Willy Collins, we received reports of dangerous and anti-social driving by mourners riding off-road bikes.

"We're conducting enquiries to identify those involved."

Mr Collins, dubbed the King of Sheffield, was laid to rest at Shiregreen Cemetery in one of the most elaborate funerals the city has ever seen.

His gold-plated coffin, topped with a crown, was escorted to the cemetery by velvet suited mourners, some wearing crowns, in a white funeral carriage pulled by six yellow and blue feather plumed horses before being laid to rest in a tiled plot lined with pictures of the Last Supper.

It is also understood mourners stopped off at a KFC along the route, with pictures showing the cortege apparently stopping at the fast food branch in Sheffield Lane Top.

Police have asked anyone with information and footage of bikers to call 101 quoting incident number 796 of 13 August.