Southport: How it feels to report on a hometown tragedy

The knife attack has left the town's residents shocked and devastated

"This sort of thing doesn't happen around here".

A phrase you often hear when an awful incident happens, and in this case, it was very true.

I'm from Southport. My family home is near where the terrible events of Monday unfolded, and I lived on Hart Street for a brief period of time.

So 'close to home' is more than true.

I arrived on the scene for BBC North West Tonight not long after we'd heard that something was going on.

Seeing such a familiar road closed off with police everywhere, shellshocked neighbours watching and the press gathered was surreal.

Numerous floral tributes have been left near the scene of the attack

Speaking to people who were there was truly painful.

Hearing their stories, their despair - my heart was breaking for everyone involved and I ended up getting upset and being comforted by a colleague.

And then, while North West Tonight was on air live from the scene, the press conference announcing that two children had died was taking place and I was there.

I was again upset sat in that media room, surrounded by cameras and microphones, just doing my normal job - but it wasn't normal.

I know I wasn't the only one, my friend and colleague Roger Johnson was noticeably choked up on air having to announce the awful news.

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And then Tuesday.

The announcement that a third little girl had died.

Then we heard their names and saw their pictures. Alice, Bebe, Elsie.

And later speaking to friends, the links.

Friends who have taken their little children to that centre, others who knew those involved.

A small town, a close-knit community, everyone having a connection.

The grief, the mourning and the community gathering outside the Atkinson that evening to be with each other and pay their respects.

Many locals came together for a vigil on Tuesday evening

But then later on, the horrific scenes of fires, bricks being thrown, police officers being attacked.

And on my phone, my mum messaging to tell me she could see smoke and people gathering, the helicopter circling overhead.

"The cat is petrified," she said in a message to me – I assume the cat wasn’t the only one.

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In a widely shared post, a local councillor posted images from both of the day's gatherings.

"The first picture is the true representation of Southport... a local community coming together peacefully in their grief, no matter their background," he wrote.

Friends shared similar sentiments on social media, in disbelief that this could happen in the small seaside resort we call home.

As a journalist, I have to cover some upsetting stories, but working on this, in the town I am very proud to be from, has been something unprecedented.

I have felt the shock, the grief, the disbelief, and a sense of responsibility to cover the story sensitively and accurately for my town, my community and most importantly for those impacted and their loved ones, who remain in my thoughts.

This sort of thing doesn't happen around here.