Alfie Evans funeral: Crowds line procession route
Crowds of well-wishers have lined the streets in Liverpool to pay their respects to Alfie Evans.
The 23-month-old, from Bootle in Merseyside, had a degenerative brain condition and died on 28 April. His case drew international attention when it became the centre of a High Court legal battle over his care. People gathered outside Everton's Goodison Park stadium as the procession passed following a private funeral service. Alfie's father Tom Evans is a keen supporter of the Premier League club and had spoken of his hopes to take his son to watch the Blues in action. As the hearse passed, small soldiers could be seen on the side of the white coffin, and the words "warrior" and "our hero" were written in white flowers on the roof. The crowd applauded and some threw flowers as the procession made its way slowly up the road. Ch Insp Chris Gibson, from Merseyside Police, said Alfie's parents Tom and Kate "continue to thank the community". Kayleigh Thomas, 27, from Norris Green, attended with her five-year-old daughter Esme. She said: "Alfie's Army are always here and always will be to support Tom and Kate and the rest of the family." Alfie, who was born in May 2016, was first admitted to Liverpool's Alder Hey Hospital in December of that year after suffering seizures, and was a patient there until his death. He had been in a semi-vegetative state for more than a year before his life support was withdrawn in April. At the scene outside Goodison Park: Paul Keaveny, BBC News Several hundred mourners and supporters of Alfie Evans lined Walton Road, outside Goodison Park, to pay their respects to the toddler whose tragic story had captured their hearts. Some wore T-shirts with a picture of Alfie and the words: "The boy who brought the world together." As Alfie's funeral procession made its way slowly up the road, the crowd applauded and some people threw flowers. Some people wept as the procession passed by while others simply waved their goodbyes. Alfie's parents' campaign against the decision saw them clash with doctors over his treatment. They lost all legal challenges to a court ruling allowing the hospital to withdraw ventilation. The case attracted widespread attention including from the Pope, who tweeted his support for the family. Alfie's parents had also wanted to fly their son to Italy for further treatment. A vigil was held last Wednesday on what would have been the toddler's second birthday.