Hillsborough disaster remembered

Thousands of people are expected to attend a memorial service today to mark the 24th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.

Liverpool FC manager Brendan Rodgers, chief executive Ian Ayre and all the club's players and staff will join the families of the 96 victims, survivors and supporters for the event at Anfield Stadium.

The annual service will be the first held since the report of the Hillsborough Independent Panel laid bare a shocking cover-up which attempted to shift the blame for the tragedy on to its victims.

The Liverpool supporters died in a crush at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium on April 15 1989 where their team were to meet Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final.

During the service, which starts at 2.45pm, the 96 names of the dead will be read out and a candle lit in memory of each victim.

LFC chairman John Henry and his Everton counterpart Bill Kenwright will give readings and a minute silence will be held at at 3.06pm, the moment when game was halted as officials realised fans were being crushed on the terraces.

The service is organised by the Hillsborough Families Support group and free tickets are available by visiting Liverpool FC's website.

Yesterday, two new memorials, dedicated to the victims and their relatives' campaigns for truth, were unveiled in Liverpool.

A seven-foot bronze monument will stand in Old Haymarket in Liverpool city centre and an antique clock was placed in the town hall. The sculpture carries the names of each victim and features the words "Hillsborough Disaster - we will remember them".

The timepiece, made by renowned clock maker John Clifton, will stand with the time frozen at 3.06pm.