Liverpool remembers on 27th anniversary of Hillsborough disaster
Memorial service will be held this afternoon at Anfield
Today marks the 27th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster - the day 96 Liverpool fans went to the FA Cup semi-final in Sheffield and never came home.
Families, friends and survivors of the disaster will gather at a memorial service at Anfield this afternoon. With the inquests coming to end, today's service will be the last to be held at the stadium.
Margaret Aspinall from the Hillsborough Family Support Group says they felt the time was right to bring the services to a close.
"It's going to be emotive, not just for the families, but for the survivors and the people of the city who want to come along, especially with this being the last one at Anfield after all these years. This has been a unanimous decision from the families that we had to draw a line at some point, for everyone hopefully to be able to move on and get on with their lives.
The 96 will always be remembered in this city, there's no doubt about that. But we have to thank the club for all they have done for us for all these years."
The service begins at 2.45pm.
In Liverpool city centre, as a mark of respect, flags on civic buildings in the city centre will be flown at half-mast and bells at the Town Hall, Municipal Building and Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral will be rung 96 times. Exchange Flags, behind the Town Hall, will be a place where people can gather to show their respects.
The Lime Street media wall, the Forever 21 screen and the M62 digital screens will display the words ‘Never Forgotten’ in a visual tribute to the 96.
In addition, public transport has been encouraged to come to a halt for one minute at 3.06pm, the Mersey Ferry will sound its horn and the barriers will be lowered at the Mersey tunnels for a minute.
Other organisations also taking part in the silence including all National Museums Liverpool venues and the Anglican Cathedral where prayers will be read prior to the silence. The Museum of Liverpool will display the number ’96’ in 3 metre-high red figures near the front entrance.
Shops in Liverpool ONE and in the Business Improvement District have been asked to observe the silence, and a team from Liverpool ONE will gather on the steps near the LFC store just before 3.06pm.
Flags on civic buildings in neighbouring authorities will also be flown at half-mast.