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.”