Traveller funeral at Blandford Forum for Elizabeth Benham

'Loved by the traveller and non-traveller community', Elizabeth Benham, known as Lizzy, passed away at Poole Hospital of a heart attack.

Her funeral was held on Monday, April 8, at Blandford Forum.

A large procession of vehicles, including trucks laden with floral tributes, horse-drawn carts, and eight Rolls Royce's, arrived at the church.

Lizzy was transported to the funeral in a Rolls Royce Phantom, which had come all the way from Nottingham and previously belonged to X Factor judge Simon Cowell.

The convoy left the family home at Kimmeridge Avenue in Poole at around 11.15 am and arrived at the funeral service at Blandford Forum Parish Church at around 12pm.

Shopkeepers stood in doorways and pedestrians lined the streets to watch the hearse arrive at the funeral service.

Lizzy died earlier this month and was described as a 'happy-go-lucky woman who would help anyone'.

A friend of Lizzy who asked to remain anonymous said: "She was a wonderful person and will be sadly missed."

One attendee said after the service, the coffin would be taken from the funeral to a private burial at the cemetery in Salisbury Road.

Her son, Dean Benham, described her as someone who would never do wrong and would help anyone who needed it.

When asked about his mother, Dean said: "She was well respected in the traveller and non-traveller community.

"We have people coming from up and down the country to pay their respects to mum.

"She paid respect to everyone she met, so people have come to do the same.

"She was the kind of person that would give someone her last fiver to anyone if they needed it- She'd help anybody."

Lizzy was born in Dorchester and spent most of her life in the Poole area.

She had two children, Dean and Rebecca, and six grandchildren.

Dean added: "Mum will be sadly missed by the travelling community as well as the non-travelling community friends and family; our hearts are broken."