Anfield stars past and present join bereaved at last Hillsborough memorial

Loved ones of the 96 who died have been joined at the home of Liverpool FC's by past and present club legends and around 25,000 ordinary fans to mark today's emotional anniversary.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp arriving at the ground

Families of the 96 unanimously agreed this year's service, held annually on April 15 to mark the 1989 disaster, would be the last major public event at Anfield.

Today VIPs sat in the stands in honour of the fans who lost their lives as the service began on the pitch in front of the Spion Kop.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and his players received a rousing reception as they took their place for the service, following last night's last-gasp heroics in their Europa Cup tie.

England manager Roy Hodgson was also among the VIP guests in seats on the Kop, along with Kenny Dalglish and many of the team playing from the days of the disaster in 1989, including Alan Hansen and Mark Lawrenson. Former Anfield great Kevin Keegan was also in attendance.

England manager Roy Hodgson inside Anfield

The service began with the traditional football hymn, Abide With Me, before silence fell as the names of the 96 were read aloud.

All died after the crush on the Leppings Lane terraces at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium after going to see their team play Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final on April 15 1989.

Jurgen Klopp, top, second from right, and Kenny Dalglish, bottom, among current Liverpool players 

All died after the crush on the Leppings Lane terraces at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium after going to see their team play Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final on April 15 1989.

As each name was read a light was lit, one by one, on a large art sculpture entitled The Band Of Life, until all the lights were illuminated.

As the time reached 3.06pm, the exact moment the match was abandoned as the tragedy unfolded, a minute's silence began.

In the city's main streets and shopping thoroughfares, public transport was halted and the hum and noise from outside the ground faded as a hush fell across the city, while Anfield, often a cauldron of noise, also fell into a sombre stillness.

Scarves and flowers at the memorial plaque

Some fans wiped away silent tears as they remembered the scores of lives lost in Britain's worst sporting disaster.

The minute's silence ended with a round of applause, as across the city bells tolled 96 times at the city's Metropolitan Cathedral.

Marking how the city has united to support and help the families of the 96, it was a player from Liverpool's nearest rivals, former Everton striker Graeme Sharp, who gave the first reading, Psalm 23, The Lord Is My Shepherd.

Dalglish, one of Liverpool FC's all time greats, and manager of the team on the day of the disaster then received a standing ovation and rapturous applause as he gave the second reading from the Gospel of John.

Roses carried to be placed at the Hillsborough memorial plaque

Joe Anderson, the mayor of Liverpool, said the support and solidarity shown to the families of the 96 showed what the city was about.

He said: "We want you, the families, to know during this time we offer you our thoughts and prayers and we want you to know we stand with you and support you during this difficult time."

He said the support group set up by the Hillsborough families was an inspiration to all for the devotion they had shown to their loved ones.

He added: "This city will never forget the 96 people who lost their lives.

"You wouldn't go away, and thank God you didn't go away."

Mr Anderson, to mark that this was the last service to be held at Anfield, asked the families of the 96 to remain seated while all around them the thousands of others present stood and clapped them for 96 seconds.