WHITNEY FANS TOLD TO "STAY AWAY" AND STAY HOME FOR FUNERAL.

Photo: Mike Segar/Reuters

A New Jersey police chief is urging Whitney Houston fans not to go anywhere near the star's funeral on Saturday, telling them to stay home and watch it on TV instead.

The pop superstar, who died in Los Angeles last Saturday, will be remembered in a private memorial service in her hometown of Newark, New Jersey at the weekend.

Famous friends, including Kevin Coster and Aretha Franklin, are expected to attend along with family members, but officials have warned fans not to attempt to get close to the funeral at the New Hope Baptist Church.

A number of streets around the venue will be closed, and Newark Police Director Samuel DeMaio has told the public to stay away.

He says, "I would advise the public that there really is going to be nothing to see here at the church. The best thing to do would be to stay home and watch the service on television. The privacy the family is seeking for the funeral... the NPD (Newark Police Department) is going to do everything they can to ensure that."

The ceremony is closed to the public, but Houston's publicist has confirmed a single camera will be allowed inside the church to broadcast the service on the internet, while a local news channel will stream the feed live.

Wenn.com