Spellow Library lights up in parade to mark relaunch tophyper

The street where rioters set fire to a library was lit up with lanterns as part of a special solidarity march to mark its reopening.

The Spilo Lane bookshop in Walton, Liverpool, was burned down in the violence that swept towns and cities in England over the summer.

Hundreds of people joined the lantern parade before it officially reopened on Thursday, following a £250,000 fundraising campaign which attracted royal and national support.

With Spellow Lane lit up for the first time in months, libraries across the country also turned on the light to show their support for Liverpool.

Violent clashes subsequently broke out between crowds of people and police forces in towns and cities across England Southport knife attack On July 29th.

Baby King, six, Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, died in the attack.

On Wednesday, about 300 adults and school children participated in the lantern parade, led by fundraiser Alex McCormack, who He received widespread praise for his leadership of the campaign.

Starting at Goodison Park, at the junction of Spilo Lane and Goodison Road, the library was lit up by a beam of light shooting into the sky in a symbolic illumination, following live music performances.

Children from Golady’s Street Primary School in Everton helped make some of the lanterns for the display, and children from nearby Arnott St Mary’s School also took part.

Infinity symbol lights lit up in the sky above the library, with the theme of light used to highlight libraries as a place of sanctuary, knowledge and community.

More than 135 libraries were lit in support, including the British Library in London, 10 in Lancashire, and others in the Wirral, Cheshire, Knowsley, Manchester and Oldham.

Liverpool City Council leader Liam Robinson said the major shift was “an opportunity to show that hatred will never win in our communities”.

He added: “The rebirth of Spello Library is a testament not only to the spirit of this city, but also to the people across the country and beyond who have reached out to offer support.

“I know the library staff cannot wait to welcome the local community back and show the work that has been done to restore this valuable resource.”

Nicola Booth, headteacher of Gwladys Street Primary School, said the destruction of the library had had a huge impact on the school, which regularly uses the library.

“What happened was absolutely devastating,” she said.

A third-grader said the library was vital because it helped him with spelling, while another added: “When I read books, now I will know things and I will be smarter than everyone.”

The campaign attracted the attention of Her Majesty The Queen, TV chef Nigella Lawson and children’s laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce.

Additional reporting by Andy Gill.