Memorial unveiled ahead of Hillsborough anniversary

A ceremony will be held today ahead of the 24th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster. Two new permanent memorials to the 96 people who lost their lives at the Sheffield stadium will be unveiled in Liverpool.

Families of the victims will be joined by Liverpool's Executive Mayor, Joe Anderson, and Lord Mayor, Sharon Sullivan, for two ceremonies which will dedicate a special clock which has been installed at the Town Hall and a memorial monument in the city centre nearby.

The anniversary of the disaster is tomorrow - when a ceremony will be held at Anfield.

Today, a grandfather clock from the collection of National Museums Liverpool, made by renowned clock maker John Clifton - will have its hands frozen at 3.06pm - the time the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest was stopped in 1989.

The mahogany long-case style clock stands eight feet tall and will be installed in the Town Hall. The ceremony, which will be held in private at midday, will also include the lighting of candles and prayers.

The commemorations will then proceed to Old Haymarket, where a memorial monument will be officially dedicated at a public ceremony at 2pm.

Created by local sculptor Tom Murphy, the seven-foot bronze structure features the words "Hillsborough Disaster - we will remember them", along with the names of all 96 Liverpool FC supporters who died.

The Hillsborough Justice Campaign commissioned Mr Murphy to create the monument, which it is donating to the city.