A YORK city centre car park is to be closed for the funeral of Lord David Wharton.

City of York Council is warning motorists that Peel Street car park - which has 77 spaces - will be closed to members of the public between 8am and 2pm tomorrow, to provide off-street parking to mourners.

Hundreds of mourners are expected to attend the service for the York father-of-six, which will be held at St Denys Church in Walmgate at 10am, followed by interment at Fulford Cemetery at 11am.

Police have already made arrangements to have extra resources available in the city centre and some city centre pubs have said they were planning to close.

Last week The Press told how an inquest heard Mr Wharton, 56, the uncle of famous boxer Henry Wharton, died of head injuries.

He suffered bruising to his eye and mouth when he was assaulted during a night-out last month, and complained of headaches during the night. His wife, Dawn, returned home the following day to find him dead.

An ambulance was called to their house in Constantine Avenue, Tang Hall, to reports of a man who had suffered a heart attack. When paramedics turned up they were threatened with an axe and baseball bats. They called the police, who then raided the house and discovered Mr Wharton's body. Three days later, detectives investigating the death arrested a 46-year-old local man. He was later released on police bail.

Police are also investigating after a 68-year-old relative of Mr Wharton was assaulted in Walmgate, York, last Saturday.

North Yorkshire Police said the attack victim was still in Leeds General Infirmary, where he was being treated for head injuries.