ONE of the 96 who lost his life in the Hillsborough disaster was described as the "apple of his mum's eye" by his father.

Christopher Edwards, from Great Sutton was 29 when he died on April 15, 1989.

His dad Sydney told the fresh inquest into the death of the 96 his son, the family's first born, was a former church choir boy and religion was important to him.

Mr Edwards introduced Christopher to football and the pair would enjoy playing golf together each Monday.

He said it was "our time" and memories he will cherish.

Mr Edwards would ask his son - who worked as a lab technician - when he planned to get married but Chris would reply "not yet".

The court heard Mr Edwards often wonders about the family his son could have had.

He said: “The only comfort I have is that Chris experienced what it was like to be loved and lived his life to the full."

The new inquest into Britain's worst sporting disaster began last month and resumed this week following a break for the 25th anniversary of the tragedy.

They are taking place at Birchwood Park in Warrington and are being heard by Court of Appeal judge Lord Justice Goldring, who has been made an assistant coroner for the purpose.

The original accidental deaths verdicts in 1991 were quashed in the High Court in 2012 after a long campaign by the Hillsborough families.

Twelve of those who lost their lives in the disaster were from Wirral and Ellesmere Port.

They were:

Peter Burkett, 24, Rock Ferry.

Ray Chapman, 50, Prenton.

James Delaney, 19, Ellesmere Port.

Christopher Edwards, 29, Ellesmere Port.

Thomas "Steve" Fox, 21, Birkenhead.

James Hennessy, 29, Ellesmere Port.

Arthur Horrocks, 41, Bebington.

Anthony Kelly, 29, Rock Ferry.

Graham Roberts, 24, Wallasey.

Dave Thomas, 23, Higher Tranmere.

Chris Traynor, 26, Birkenhead.

Kevin Traynor, 16, Birkenhead.