Former footballer John Aldridge led commemorations for the 21st anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, in which 96 football fans were killed during the 1989 FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, it was announced.

Mr Aldridge, who made over 80 appearances for Liverpool FC in the 1980s, joined Inspector Bernie Swift of Merseyside Police and delivered readings during a memorial service at Anfield stadium.

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez, with his entire squad and staff, attended the service which included a minute's silence at 3.06 p.m., the moment when the match was halted as officials realised fans were being crushed on the terraces.

Afterwards the names of the 96 people who died were read out and a candle lit in memory of each one.

The service was organised by the Hillsborough Families Support group and only ticket-holders were able to attend the event at Anfield.

This was the first year it has been a ticket-only event. The decision was taken for safety reasons after an unexpected 30,000 people attended last year's service marking the 20th anniversary.

Shortly afterwards the Government, with emergency services in South Yorkshire and Sheffield City Council, agreed to open up previously unseen documents relating to the tragedy.