Footage shows Luton wedding with over 100 guests shut down by police

Over 100 people were present at the wedding at Zaheer's Venue and Buffet on Selbourne Road, when police attended after 7.30pm.

Selbourne Road was at the centre of a Covid-19 outbreak in Luton at the end of July, which saw the town placed on the government's watch list.

An eyewitness said: "I saw a police officer outside the venue, who was looking for the chef - who never even turned up.

"Then the other police cars arrived and cancelled the wedding, over 100 people had turned up.

"By 11.30pm the wedding was over."

A source revealed they had tipped off police about the wedding days in advance, after information was shared over social media.

But when contacted by Luton News, Zaheers stated they had called police themselves after more guests arrived than had originally been agreed.

Mohammed Zaheer, owner of Zaheer's Venue and Buffet, said: "We arranged for 50 guests - 30 downstairs and 20 upstairs - but then more and more people came. I tried to stop them and then we called police.

"The police came and took everyone away and then some came back and we called police again, the party was shut down.

"We called the police ourselves. People don't listen sometimes and over 100 people was too much for our security.

"It was a mistake for them to bring so many people."

A Bedfordshire Police spokesman said: "We were called on Sunday evening to a report that a wedding party at Zaheer’s in Selbourne Road, Luton, was in breach of Covid-19 regulations in relation to the number of guests present.

"On attendance at the venue, we were informed that a private event had exceeded the maximum occupancy under the guidelines.

"Words of advice were given and, working with the venue management, the party was closed down at 11.30pm.

"We will continue to work with the venue to ensure numbers at future events remain within guidelines.

"Covid-19 remains a risk to our communities, and anyone wishing to report a breach of Covid-19 guidelines can do so via our online reporting tool at https://www.bedfordshire.police.uk/report/Report-Shared/Report-a-concern."