A 12-year-old girl has died following an assault in Liverpool city centre - with four schoolboys as young as 13 arrested on suspicion of murder.
Merseyside Police said Ava White suffered 'catastrophic injuries' in an assault following a verbal argument in the city at 8.39pm, shortly after the Christmas lights switch on took place.
Four boys - one aged 13, two aged 14 and one 15-year-old - have been arrested on suspicion of murder, the force said.
When police arrived at the scene, they found Ava, who was with friends, collapsed on the ground and receiving first aid from a member of the public.
Paramedics attended and she was taken to Alder Hey Children's Hospital where she died a short time later.
Assistant Chief Constable Jon Roy said: 'Our thoughts and condolences go out to Ava's family, who are being supported by specialist family liaison officers.
'Their world has been torn apart and no parent should ever have to face that knock on the door from police officers to say that their child has died.
