THE school where Rhys Jones was due to start before his murder has commemorated his life with a red and blue day.

Pupils and school friends of the 11-year-old at Fazakerley High wore the colours in memory of the Evertonian’s passion for football and to raise money for Alder Hey.

The day was given the blessing of Rhys’s parents, Melanie and Stephen, who chose the charitable cause, and symbolises football fans from both city clubs uniting in tribute to him.

Rhys was shot dead on August 22 while walking home from football practice through Croxteth Park. His new Fazakerley uniform had been bought just hours before the murder. School deputy head Christine Rourke said: “All the children have turned out in red and blue, many in football kits.

“Staff have joined in, too, and we thought it was such a nice way to remember Rhys – his passion was football.

“We have raised £700 and the figure is rising. We hope it will reach £1,000.

“We contacted Rhys’s parents before we arranged the day to check they were happy with the idea. They said they would like the money to go to Alder Hey’s A&E department, so that is the cause we chose.

“It is hard for the children, but they have all dealt with Rhys’s death well with a lot of support, particularly the younger children, many of whom knew Rhys.

“In the very first assembly of the term, Rhys’s dad and his elder brother, who is in the sixth form, attended and we held a minute’s applause, in line with the applause at Rhys’s funeral.

“We have also seen a strong reaction to gang culture from the children, and this day has helped us unite against it.”

Headteacher Nick Fleming added: “Rhys was a very special boy. He was friendly, outgoing and popular with everyone. It was tragic that, when the new school year started, he wasn’t here to start secondary school with his friends and they all miss him terribly.

“We wanted to do something special to pay tribute to him, and we thought this would be the perfect way of doing it.”

POLICE are still investigating the murder. Two teenagers arrested on suspicion of harbouring the firearm which may have been used to kill Rhys were released on conditional police bail on November 22 pending further inquiries.

lizawilliams