Good afternoon, these are the latest lunchtime ECHO headlines.
City in mourning as hundreds gather for emotional goodbyes to Ava White
Hundreds of people gathered for a touching farewell to a 12-year-old girl who died after being stabbed in Liverpool.
Mourners gathered at the city's Metropolitan Cathedral to remember Ava White, who died after a city centre attack on November 25.
Today people came to pay their respects, and say their last goodbyes, to the well-loved 12-year-old.
READ MORE: Hundreds gather for Ava White's funeral at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral
In an emotional speech at the service, which was open to the public and media, Archbishop Malcolm McMahon said that there was "little sadder in life than the death of a child".
Read the full story here.
Man dies after being found injured in street as police cordon off scene
A man has died after being found with a head injury in the street.
Police were called at 12.20am by North West Ambulance Service after reports of an elderly man being found with a head injury.
A Merseyside Police spokesperson said: "We were contacted at 12.20am today, Thursday 23 rd December, by the North West Ambulance Service after reports an elderly male had been found on Glovers Lane in Bootle with a head injury.
"The man, who was in his 70s, was taken to hospital where he was sadly pronounced deceased a short time later."
Read the full story here.
Brother's emotional last words to sister before he disappeared
The sister of a man who went missing more than a year ago has revealed the last words he said to her.
James Miller, from Warrington, was last seen on Slater Street in Latchford at 11pm on Tuesday, December 22, 2020.
His sister Emma Miller said more than a year on, there has been "nothing solid" in knowing the 38-year-old's whereabouts.
She added police are following up any reports they receive, but they have had nothing since CCTV footage of James on December 22.
