Funeral under way for Southport attack victim Alice

Crowds have lined streets for the funeral for one of the three girls killed in the Southport attacks.

Alice da Silva Aguiar, aged nine, died from her injuries in hospital a day after a knifeman attacked children attending a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on 29 July.

Bebe King, aged six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, also died in the attack, where eight other girls and two adults were injured.

About 300 people gathered near the church, some held balloons and others released bubbles before a round of applause broke out as the cortege arrived.

Pink ribbons and balloons were tied to lampposts and garden walls.

Outside the packed church, many mourners listened as the service was broadcast through speakers.

In an earlier tribute, Alice's parents said: "Keep smiling and dancing like you love to do our Princess, like we said before to you, you're always our princess and no one would change that."

The family, who is Portuguese, attended a celebration of her life on Tuesday, which is traditional in Portugal one week after a person has died.

Father John Heneghan, who is leading the funeral service at St Patrick's Church, previously told BBC Radio Merseyside that his abiding memory of Alice was of a "wonderfully happy girl" who brought "joy to her mum and dad".

He said the town's residents were "very bruised and would be for a long time" following the attack, adding that many were "horrified" by how the stabbings had been used as an excuse to spark disorder across the UK.