An snapshot of the nine-year-old child attending the dancing workshop with a Taylor Swift theme, released the day of the incident, was shared by her parents. The youngster was stabbed to death.

On Monday, July 29, in the morning, Alice da Silva Aguiar is pictured at the Hart Space community center next to a cardboard cutout of Swift.

Following the incident that harmed multiple children, she was one of three girls who passed away.

As hundreds of people gathered for the girl's funeral at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Southport today, Alice's parents, Sergio and Alexandra, shared the picture.

Members of the public lined a street in the Merseyside town to honour Alice as the funeral procession arrived.

They were joined by around 30 uniformed police officers and Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy.

Alice's parents issued a statement during the service on their behalf, which stated: "You were our ideal dreamchild; everything was flawless from the time you arrived. A good kid who loves animals and has a pleasant disposition; she is also a budding environmentalist.

"Your self-assurance and compassion changed our entire universe. Playful, vivacious, amiable, and always so respectful—not yelling is a house rule you implemented, which is a difficult assignment for a young child, particularly in a Portuguese home.

"Being around you was a privilege, we cherished every milestone, you completed us... we loved cuddling you every night for almost nine years, apart from sleepovers and nights away with your friends, we were never apart."

The grieving parents added that their daughter was committed to her dancing and her schoolwork, and continued: "Your to-do list was extensive and we were sure that you would achieve it, if only you had the time.

"It hurts, we will never see you grow up."

Sergio and Alexandra also said they have been asking themselves whether they could have done anything to prevent her death, adding: "We will never get over this pain."

The parents released the last photo and statement along with other images of their daughter from throughout her short life.

Some show her as a much younger girl at ballet classes while another shows her outside school.

Earlier in the service, Jinnie Payne, headteacher of Churchtown Primary School, told how Alice was a lively pupil who enjoyed playing her ukelele with the choir.

She added that Alice would often having two bowls of porridge at breakfast club but "refused to be referred to as Goldlilocks", adding that the girl would reply: "It's Alice in Wonderland if you don't mind!"

Ms Payne became emotional as she said at the end of her tribute: "We are letting you go dancing now Alice, teach those angels a few dance moves. Keep daydreaming Alice, it's a magical place to be, in your own thoughts.

"Make magic every day... and we will feel the power of your magic ability. Let your beaming smile guide you Alice and shine brightly on us all.

"Alice, you will forever be in our Church Town hearts".

The Southport stabbing attack was followed by days of far-right riots up and down the UK after misinformation online said the suspect was an asylum seeker who arrived in the UK by boat. It later emerged the suspect was born in Wales.

Chief Constable Kennedy said to the parents in a reading she gave at the service: "You have shown great courage in asking me to be here today, to speak, to give a message from you, Alice's family, to say you do not want there to be any violence on the streets of the United Kingdom in the name of your daughter.

"I am ashamed and so sorry that you even had to consider this in the planning of the funeral of your beautiful daughter Alice. I hope that anyone who has taken part in the violent disorder on our over streets over the past 13 days is hanging their head in shame at the pain they have caused you, a grieving family."