Sir Adrian Fulford formally opened the hearing by standing for a minute’s silence in memory of the three girls, Alice da Silva Aguiar, Bebe King and Elsie Dot Stancombe, killed during the attack

The second phase of the Southport inquiry is due to start today, Wednesday July 8, as families want to "prevent future mass casualty attacks and better protect the public"

The inquiry, at the International Dispute Resolution Centre, began with a minute’s silence for the victims of the attack