Rumours that TV show My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding is set to be filmed in Cirencester today are not true according to the show's producers.
Whispers have been circulating on Facebook that the popular Channel 4 programme, which lifts the lid on the lives of travelling folk, will be filmed this afternoon at Watermoor Church.
But a spokesman for the show said: "Nothing is filming for Channel 4's Big Fat Gypsy series at the moment."People commenting on the social networking site's Spotted Cirencester page speculated that TV crews would be filming a funeral rather than a wedding.
It sparked furious online debate, with many people saying they would rather not have gypsies visiting the town.
It comes as a group of travellers have moved into the Kingshill Sports Complex. The travellers and 15 caravans moved onto the land next to Kingshill School at around 3pm. It is believed that around 70 travellers from North Yorkshire have set up home on route to a religious convention in Weston-super-Mare. It is understood council representatives have given the travellers permission to stay on the site until Saturday, but they are expected to move before then.Beverly-jane Waldron spoke out in defence of the travellers, urging people to be more considerate, particularly of those attending the funeral.
She said: "There's a reason these people come from far and wide to show respect to the family member who has passed on.
"It's called respect and I'm very much ashamed at this town right now for the complete and under disrespect some of its residents are showing towards this no doubt grieving family that's got more than enough to be dealing with."
Gypsy funerals are renowned for including a number of unusual traditions and superstitions. They include bringing the dead person's body home and hanging clean white sheets and fresh wild flowers on the walls. The coffin would normally need to be considerably larger than the body as it would be buried with their possessions to be used in their afterlife such as their favourite musical instrument, knives, watches and money. Any remaining possessions of the deceased are burnt or buried including the wagon, cooking pots and crockery. Horses or dogs are often slaughtered and any horse brasses or harnesses destroyed. No possessions are supposed to be left to be used by the living in case the deceased soul comes back to claim them.