Candlelit vigil held in Culcheth for Brianna Ghey
A candlelit vigil has taken place in the village of Culcheth near Warrington in memory of 16-year-old Brianna Ghey.
Brianna, who was transgender, was found stabbed to death on a path at Culcheth Linear Park in the afternoon of Saturday 11 February.
A boy and girl, both aged 15, have been charged with her murder and appeared via videolink at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday 16 February where a trial date was fixed for July.
Vigils in memory of Brianna have been held across the country, including in Liverpool and Manchester with more planned over the weekend.
Hundreds of people gathered on the green in the village of Culcheth at 6:30pm on Friday to light candles in Brianna's memory.
Local businesses showed their support for Brianna with the Cherry Tree Pub stopping serving between 6:30pm and 7pm so that staff could pay their respects.
A local bakery also stayed open late offering free coffees to people attending the vigil.
Speaking at the vigil, the Rev Katharine Bland from Culcheth Methodist church said "We stand together this evening because we are hurting.
"Brianna's death has brought communities together across the country.
"It’s a reminder to us all of the value of life and the fragility of life.
"The importance of respect to each other. We are here for Brianna who has left us far too soon.
"We are here for her family, to show her [Brianna] how much we care."
Many of the well-wishers wore "rest in power Brianna Ghey" T-shirts with a picture of her on the front.
Crowds also sang Over The Rainbow.
The vigil was attended by the mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and his daughter Annie.
He tweeted: "Here to remember Brianna, send our love to her family and support to young trans people everywhere."
Rugby team, Warrington Wolves paid their respects to Brianna in the first game of the Super League last night.
Players wore black armbands during the match while number 16, Danny Walker, wore a separate warm-up shirt bearing her name.
Residents have told ITV news what happened has left the small community in shock.
People have been traveling to pay tribute and lay flowers at the entrance to the park where Brianna's body was found.
The family of 16-year-old Brianna Ghey have been "overwhelmed" by "support, positivity and compassion" from across the country, police have said.Detective Chief Inspector Adam Waller thanked the community of Culcheth for its support and said officers had been "inundated" with information.
He said: "I know that the family have also been overwhelmed by the messages of support, positivity and the compassion across the country and beyond - and the thoughts of everyone at the constabulary remain firmly with them."
A provisional trial date has been fixed for a boy and girl, both aged 15, who are charged with Brianna's murder.
The girl, from Warrington, and boy, from Leigh, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared on separate videolinks from youth detention accommodation at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday 16 February.
They were both accompanied by an adult and spoke to confirm their names and dates of birth.
The girl's parents and the boy's mother were in the public gallery for the hearing, which lasted just under half an hour, and both mothers appeared tearful.
Judge David Aubrey KC fixed a trial date for July 10, with the case expected to last about three weeks.