'Elle Edwards will have a place at the Christmas table', says her dad

Tim Edwards, pictured on a climb of Mount Snowdon, with his daughter Elle

Elle Edwards was shot dead while on a Christmas Eve night out with friends last year - a totally innocent bystander caught up in a violent feud between warring gangs.

As the first anniversary of the 26-year-old's murder approaches, Elle's family say they are determined to keep the spirit of Christmas alive. Not only in her memory but also for her young nephew Roman.

Elle's dad, Tim, says the whole family will be together this Christmas "and Elle will have a place at the table".

"It's hard isn't it, but you have got to keep going," he tells BBC Breakfast.

"It's a time of apprehension, but it's also a time to think about Elle and to celebrate her."

Beautician Elle was killed after Connor Chapman opened fire while targeting two men at the Lighthouse Pub in Wallasey Village, Wirral.

Chapman, 23, was found guilty of her murder in July at Liverpool Crown Court and jailed for at least 48 years.

Four more men have since been charged in connection with her murder.

A 42-year-old man from Wallasey, a woman and man from Woodchurch, aged 33 and 54, and a 33-year-old woman from Birkenhead are accused of assisting an offender.

Elle Edwards was an innocent bystander when Connor Chapman opened fire

Speaking about Chapman, Tim says "we can't allow that thing to ruin every single Christmas... we must still celebrate it in some way, for the family. We have to keep going".

Determined to keep busy, he is volunteering at the Charlotte Brightside charity centre in New Brighton this Christmas.

They are making up food and present hampers for local families in need.

Tim says he wants to repay the community which he says has done so much to support his own family over the past 12 months.

"They've really looked after me. It's the least I can do," he says.

"It's been humbling to know that there are good people out there."

Tim Edwards told the BBC he still speaks to his daughter every day

Tim is still in contact with the Merseyside Police detectives who led his daughter's murder investigation.

"They are great at what they do. They are there for people, and we do need people like that.

"It's a year since they told me that 150 officers turned up on Christmas Day, to give up their Christmas to do what they could to catch Elle's killer. I've met a few of them and thanked them personally."

• 'My daughter's murderer can rot in hell'

• Elle Edwards' dad vows to help combat gun violence

• Elle Edwards murderer jailed for at least 48 years

On Christmas Eve Tim will come, as he does every day, to his daughter's memorial bench on the waterfront at New Brighton, overlooking the Liverpool skyline.

Here, he says he still talks to her. He asks her for signs.

This year has seen a number of high-profile gun crime convictions in Liverpool.

In April, Thomas Cashman was jailed for a minimum of 42 years for murdering nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel in her own home.

Last month, four men were jailed for more than 40 years for murdering Ashley Dale, again in her own home.

Tim says the people of Merseyside must continue to make a stand against violent and gang crime in 2024.

With tears in his eyes, he says: "We have to have hope. This city is the greatest city on the planet. That's because of the people.

"For the future, we've got to keep going forward together. It's easy to be swallowed by negativity and let it beat you.

"Keep your head up. Keep going strong. Keep going forward. Elle is always with me, in everything I do."

Additional reporting by Monica Rimmer

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