Mourners 'scammed' in pub boss funeral stream con

Bethany O'Neill, patisserie chef at The Paul Pry, said she was still in shock

The funeral of a pub landlord was targeted by scammers who tricked mourners watching on a live stream into handing over money, his family said.

Hundreds of people went to Worcester Cathedral on 19 February for a memorial service for 39-year-old Alex Pope, who ran The Paul Pry.

His family set up a live stream on the pub's Facebook page for those who could not attend in person.

However, a fake account, bearing a resemblance to the official page, was set up in the run-up to the event and mourners were asked for their bank information, they said.

The fraudsters then used the details to take "huge amounts of money" from some of the Worcestershire landlord's friends and family, the pub's staff said.

Bethany O'Neill, patisserie chef at The Paul Pry and Mr Pope's sister in law, said she was still in "shock and disbelief".

She told BBC Hereford and Worcester: "It's only a month since he was taken from us. Trying to process that and hearing how people are being taken advantage of further, it's like a punch in the gut.

"I don't know how anyone is capable of doing this."

Mourners lined the streets outside the pub for the funeral procession

Despite the anger caused by the scam, Ms O'Neill said it had not tarnished the legacy of the well-loved landlord.

She added: "We take comfort in knowing how loved he is as a person and how big of an impact he had on everyone.

"He will always be remembered by everyone in Worcester."

West Mercia Police has been contacted for more information.

Floral tributes were left outside the pub