Hillsborough 'legacy' Run For The 96 5km launched

Runners in the Hillsborough-Anfield Run will arrive in Sheffield on Tuesday

A 5km run in memory of the 96 people who died in the Hillsborough disaster is to be held in Liverpool, race organisers have revealed.

Run For The 96 will be staged in April 2015 with plans for it to start and finish in Stanley Park taking in the Hillsborough memorial eternal flame.

It is the brainchild of Dom Williams who set up the 96-mile Hillsborough to Anfield Run in 2012.

He felt it time to create a "legacy run" the public can take part in.

Mr Williams said he wanted to expand on the three-day Hillsborough to Anfield Run and stage a shorter event alongside it that was open to all.

He said he was hopeful the race, announced in the week of the 25th anniversary of the disaster, would become an annual event.

'Eternal bond of unity'

It will be organised by BTR Liverpool which also organises the Liverpool Half Marathon.

BTR Liverpool said it had not finalised the date in April or race route but initial plans was for it the race to pass through Anfield Road, Arkles Lane, and Priory Road.

Five runners are taking part in this year's charity Hillsborough-Anfield Run which raises funds for Alder Hey Children's Hospital, The Children's Hospital Sheffield and the Hillsborough Justice Campaign.

It started at the Hillsborough memorial eternal flame at Liverpool's Anfield stadium at 10:00 BST and is due to finish on the anniversary of the tragedy on Tuesday.

Liverpool Walton Labour MP Steve Rotheram, who is running the first leg of the run, said it demonstrated "the continued depth of togetherness that exists" in the city.

"Out of the darkness of the Hillsborough tragedy, an eternal bond of unity has emerged which has made Liverpool synonymous with a unique kind of solidarity," he said.

Ninety six Liverpool fans died as a result of overcrowding on the terraces at the FA Cup semi-final on 15 April 1989.

Fresh inquests into the disaster opened in Warrington on 31 March.