Milestone for Hillsborough

Thousands of people gathered at Liverpool's Anfield football ground today for a memorial service to the 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster.

It was the first commemoration of the tragedy since an official report laid bare the cover-up which attempted to shift the blame on to the victims.

Read: Hillsborough: The Truth… A quarter of a century late

ITV News' North of England Correspondent Damon Green met one campaigner to whom today's service meant everything:

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 for 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.

Today marks the 24th anniversary of the tragedy on April 15, 1989 - one of Britain's worst sporting disasters.

It is the first since the families of victims fought and won justice in their campaign to clear blame for the disaster from the dead.

Yesterday, around 300 people, including the families of victims and civic and faith leaders, gathered at Liverpool town hall.

Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said the 96 were died "robbed of their dignity by the people in authority" who indulged in "lies and deceit" rather than admit their mistakes.

An antique clock with the time frozen at 3.06pm - the exact time that the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest was stopped as officials realised fans were being crushed on the terraces in Sheffield

• Read: Hillsborough disaster documents published.

An 18th century grandfather clock on display at Liverpool Town Hall has today been frozen at the time of the Hillsborough Disaster, to mark the 24th anniversary of the tragedy that left 96 people dead.

The ornate 1780s John Clifton clock, donated by Liverpool Museum, will rest on 3:06pm, the time that the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest on 15 April 1989 was halted as officials realised fans were being crushed on the terraces.

A private memorial ceremony is currently underway at the Town Hall, ahead of a public commemoration in the Old Haymarket, where a seven-foot bronze memorial monument dedicated to the supporters will be unveiled.