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A special day is being held to mark the knife attack in Southport that left a seven-year-old girl dead.

Elsie Dot Stancombe’s parents have requested that her funeral be held on Friday, which will be designated as Elsie’s special day.

Elsie, Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, and Bebe King, six, suffered fatal injuries in the attack during a Taylor Swift dance class at a Hart Street studio on July 29.

Those who knew Elsie best have been invited to attend her funeral at 10am at St John’s Church, Birkdale, near Southport, while others may pay their last respects at the parish hall and Liverpool Road Methodist Church, where the service will be broadcast.

Mourners are asked to wear pastel or light colors, but not black, for the service.

A statement on the FJ Gibb Funeral Directors Facebook page said: “Elsie’s mother and father and family encourage friends and the entire local community to give her the best possible celebration on Friday – ‘Elsie’s special day.'”

Before the service, a funeral procession will pass through Birkdale to the church.

After the service, the procession will pass the floral site outside the Atkinson Arts Centre in Southport, with the Royal Mail, where Elsie’s father David works, also joining the cortege.

This service is the last funeral for the victims.

Axel Rudakubana, 18, is accused of the murders of Elsie, Alice and Bebe, as well as the attempted murder of teacher Leanne Lucas, businessman John Hayes and eight children, whose names cannot be mentioned for legal reasons, and possession of a kitchen knife with a curved blade.