Taylor Swift fan raises £104,753 for Southport families after star's statement on 'horror' attack

The attack happened during a Swift-themed yoga and dance workshop organised by Enlighten, a yoga studio for children, and was supposed to take place at 10am, for children aged between six and 11.

Merseyside Police received an emergency call reporting an incident at an address on Hart Street at 11.47am - it has now been confirmed that three children have died in the attack.

Cristina Jones from Wiltshire began a JustGiving page when she heard the news of the incident and received donations from worldwide fans through the Alder Hey Children's Charity which supports the hospital where some of the victims are being treated.

She said: "What compelled us was we were thinking about the fact that these families are going through just unimaginable hell right now. It feels really nice we’ve done something really positive.

"I firmly believe there’s nothing we can do to make the families feel better because of what they're going through right now, but if we’ve taken some sort of burden from them, financial or whatever, it’s nice to know that we’ve done what we can do."

Jones added that it was "really lovely" to see Swift share a statement paying tribute to the victims and added: "She’s bringing it to attention and letting the families know she’s well aware and is thinking of them."

Swift took to her Instagram story today and said: "The horror of yesterday's attack in Southport is washing over me continuously and I'm just completely in shock.

"The loss of life and innocence, and the horrendous trauma inflicted on everyone who was there, the families and first responders.

"These were just little kids at a dance class. I am at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families."

Merseyside police issued a statement today stating that a third child had died as a result of injuries sustained during the attack and said: "The nine-year-old girl died in hospital in the early hours of this morning, Tuesday 30 July.

"We can confirm that the children who died yesterday were girls aged six and seven years.

"Eight other children suffered stab wounds sustained during the attack, and five of them are in critical condition.

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"Two adults are also in critical condition after being injured during the incident."

A 17-year-old boy remains in custody accused of murder and attempted murder following the incident in Hart Street yesterday.