Funeral procession for fire death boys

A HUGE funeral procession for tragic brothers Ben and Rodney Smith is expected to take place today .

Ben, three and Rodney, 11 were killed when fire swept through a caravan at the West Meadows traveller's site on Bury Road, Ipswich on April 10.

It is believed they became trapped in the caravan and despite the best efforts of firefighters could not be saved.

A third brother, aged nine, who had also been in the caravan, managed to escape the blaze.

Today hundreds of members of the travelling community will turn out to pay their respects to the brothers in a service at St Mary's Church, Long Melford.

Motorists are being warned of possible traffic congestion as the cortege proceeds through the county.

It will begin its journey on the B1070 at Raydon at 11.30am and will proceed to West Meadows, Goddard Road, Ipswich before travelling along the B1070 to the A12.

It will then travel along the A12 towards the Copdock interchange, westbound on the A14 towards the West Meadows site at the Asda exit.

There is expected to be about 50 cars with this part of the procession and the cortege will be escorted by marked police traffic cars.

Upon leaving West Meadows at about 12.15pm, 250 vehicles are expected to accompany the procession.

It will then proceed along the A14 eastbound, turning off for Sproughton and travelling through the village along the A1071, turning onto the A134 through Newton Green and turning onto the B115 at Great Waldingfield, through the village of Acton and at Bull Lane travelling along the Long Melford bypass.

The cortege will then proceed through Long Melford along Clare Road to St Mary's Church where it is due to arrive at 1.30pm for a 2pm service.

Due to the high volume of vehicles expected police are asking pedestrians and motorists to be patient and seek alternative routes.