The funeral of one of the three young children killed in the Southport knife rampage is taking place on Sunday afternoon.
Alice Da Silva Aguiar, aged nine, was one of three youngsters who died in the attack at the Taylor Swift-themed dance class on Monday, July 29.
Several other children and adults were injured in the attack, which also claimed the lives of six-year-old Bebe King and seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe.
The private funeral is set to take place at St Patrick’s Church in Southport on Sunday afternoon, with hundreds of people expected to line the streets of Southport.
At a memorial service at the same church on Tuesday, a speaker, speaking on behalf of Alice's family, said: “Alice, you are the most beautiful, strongest girl in the world and I hope you know we love you from the bottom of our hearts. Keep smiling and dancing with the girls.”
Richard Ashmore
Thank you for following this coverage
This now concludes our coverage of the tributes paid to little Alice Da Silva Aguiar today at her funeral.
Thank you
Richard Ashmore
Mourners break into heartfelt applause out the church in sign of respect
Liverpool Echo journalist Ben Roberts-Haslam shared a video showing people paying tribute outside the church with respectful applause.
\u2014 Ben Roberts-Haslam (@benhaslm) August 11, 2024A chorus of applauds from both inside and outside the church breaks out after a rendition of \u201cShine, Jesus, Shine\u201d.
The funeral service has now concluded and Alice Da Silva Aguiar will now be taken to a local crematorium with her family. pic.twitter.com/aSO20Gsazz
Richard Ashmore
Alice's dance teacher pays tribute to a "most kind-hearted child"
In a tribute written by Alice’s dance teacher Heidi Liddle, read by her headteacher Mrs Payne, she described her as the "most kind hearted child with thick brown hair that danced as she walked.” She continued: “She had a smile that lit up every room that she walked into.”
Tom Burnett
A tribute from Alice's parents has described her as a 'beloved angel'.
Tom Burnett
“Let your beaming smile guide you and you will forever be in our Churchtown hearts.”
Headteacher of Churchtown school Mrs Payne read a poem out about Alice.
She added: "Let your beaming smile guide you and you will forever be in our Churchtown hearts.”
Tom Burnett
Headteacher praises Alice's parents
The headteacher of Alice's school is now speaking. She is praising Alice's parents, Alex and Sergio as an inspiration and thanking them for their strength.
Tom Burnett
Serena Kennedy, Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, speaking
Serena Kennedy, Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, is addressing the service. She has said those who have been involved in the violent disorder following the rampage should 'hang their heads in shame'.
Tom Burnett
Representative of the Portuguese government speaking
A representative from the Portuguese government has been speaking in both English and Portuguese. She has thanked the British government for the support that has been offered to the family.
Tom Burnett
Service being played on speakers to those outside
Members of the public lined have Marshside Road as the funeral cortege arrived, along with about 30 uniformed police officers.
Pink ribbons and balloons have been tied to lampposts and garden walls.
Applause broke out as the carriage – drawn by two white horses sporting orange and white plumes – containing the youngster’s white coffin approached the church entrance.
Several hundred people have packed into the church while more listen outside as the service was relayed on loudspeakers.
Tom Burnett
Reading from the Bible now underway
The priest is now reading an excerpt from the Bible.
Tom Burnett
Alice's guitar to be played as part of the service
Prayers are now taking place as the funeral service gets underway at the church in Southport.
Alice loved to play the guitar and the priest leading the service is playing his own guitar and singing while her guitar sits nearby.
The coffin is carried into the church (Image: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Tom Burnett
Adults and children blowing bubbles on roads outside
Adults and children have been blowing bubbles as the cortege arrives at the church. The carriage has been towed by two white horses.
The funeral cortege arrives outside the church (Image: Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Tom Burnett
Cortege arrives
The cortege carrying the coffin of Alice Da Silva Aguiar has arrived at the church in Southport.
The coffin is being transported in a white horse-drawn carriage.
The funeral cortege arrives at the church (Image: Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Tom Burnett
Mourners outside the church
More mourners have now arrived outside the church ahead of the funeral. Many people are wearing white.
Mourners outside the church (Image: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Tom Burnett
Merseyside Police Chief Constable in attendance
Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy is outside the church today. Many emergency services workers are set to attend the funeral - with the Liverpool Echo reporting these include some who attended the scene of the incident.
Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy in attendance (Image: PA)
Tom Burnett
Ambulance staff arrive with flowers
A group of ambulance staff from North West Ambulance Service have arrived with floral tributes.
Ambulance staff with floral tributes (Image: PA)
Tom Burnett
More people gathering outside the church
More people are starting to congregate outside St Patrick's Church in Southport this afternoon.
Many are wearing white as they wait for the horse-drawn carriage.
Mourners gather outside the church in Southport (Image: Ben Roberts-Haslam/Liverpool Echo)
Tom Burnett
Order of Service
Alice Da Silva Aguiar was one of three children killed in the devastating Southport attack last week.
The other children who died were six-year-old Bebe King and seven-year old Elsie Dot Stancombe.
The order of service for the funeral (Image: PA)
Tom Burnett
People starting to line the streets
People are starting to line the streets near the church in Southport where the funeral is taking place.
The private ceremony is set to take place at 2pm.
People start to line the streets in Southport (Image: Ben Roberts-Haslam/Liverpool Echo)
Tom Burnett
Funeral to be a private event - but hundreds set to line streets
The funeral service and cremation are going to be private events. People are unable to enter the ceremony uninvited.
However, the Liverpool Echo reports that hundreds of people are expected to line the streets of Southport to pay their respects.
Tom Burnett
Minute's silence ahead of football match at Anfield
Players have observed a minute's silence for the victims of the Southport attack before the pre-season friendly football match between Liverpool and Sevilla at Anfield.
A minute's silence has been held at Anfield today (Image: PETER POWELL/AFP via Getty Images)
Tom Burnett
"Keep smiling and dancing with the girls"
At a memorial service at the same church on Tuesday, a speaker, speaking on behalf of Alice's family, said:“Alice, you are the most beautiful, strongest girl in the world and I hope you know we love you from the bottom of our hearts. Keep smiling and dancing with the girls.”
Alice, nine, was one of three girls killed in Southport (Image: PA)
Tom Burnett
Funeral set to take place this afternoon
The funeral of nine-year-old Alice Da Silva Aguiar is set to take place in Southport this afternoon. The girl was one of three children killed in the knife rampage at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class almost a fortnight ago.
