UP TO 1,000 mourners are expected to attend the funeral of Rhys Jones later today when it is held in Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral.

The service, to be held this afternoon, comes just a fortnight after 11-year-old Rhys was shot dead by a BMX-riding gunman as he walked home from football practice in Croxteth Park.

Rhys' parents, Melanie, 41, and Stephen, 44, have issued a public invitation for well-wishers to attend the service.

A spokeswoman for Merseyside Police said: "The service will be a celebration of Rhys' life and his family have asked that bright clothes, or football strips, should be worn."

The funeral procession is expected to pass Goodison Park, home of Rhys's team, Everton, on its way to the cathedral. Following the service, which will be filmed for television, a private burial will take place.

Yesterday, a round of applause rung out around Rhys's former school as tearful children and teachers remembered the football-mad youngster.

Emotions were running high at Broad Square Primary School in Norris Green, Liverpool, where Rhys was educated.

Rather than mark the boy's life with a sombre minute's silence, the decision was taken to celebrate him with a round of applause.

His former headteacher, Elaine Spencer, announced that Broad Square's new playground will be named in Rhys' honour. And she added that a planned football tournament will be named the Rhys Jones Trophy - marking the Everton fan's love of football.

Mrs Spencer said: "Although Rhys' classmates have moved on to secondary school, there are many younger pupils who knew him as their friend. And, of course, our staff have been devastated by this news. All of us are still trying to come to terms with this senseless murder, and the start of the new school term will be filled with sadness."

She added: "We will also ask Rhys' parents to help us identify an appropriate charity for a huge, whole-school fundraising campaign as a way of remembering Rhys' life."