The 16-year-old has cancer and is not expected to live more than a few days.

Travellers have been descending on the Pepperstock site in Slip End to visit the teenager and pay their respects.

To accommodate all of the families, the council has temporarily closed Woodside Road between the Luton Road and Grove Park Road junctions.

Richard Stay, of Bedfordshire County Council, said: "Our sympathies and thoughts are with the family at this difficult time, and we understand that other travelling families are keen to come and pay their respects.

"It's important that the arrival of so many vehicles into this area is managed as well as possible, both for the travellers arriving, but also for everyone who lives and works in this part of the county.

"We are working proactively to ensure problems are minimised. The road closure, which is a temporary measure only, is a sensible solution for everyone involved."

No date has been set for the road to reopen.