Pleas of not guilty have been entered on behalf of Axel Rudakubana, 18, to three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder following the deaths of three young girls in a knife attack in Southport.

The pleas were submitted after he failed to reply when arraigned at Liverpool Crown Court.

Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven died during a knife attack whilst attending a Taylor Swift dance class in Southport, Merseyside, on July 29.

Rudakubana was aged 17 at the time of the attack at the Hart Space venue

Axel Rudakubana

He is also charged with possession of a knife, production of a biological toxin, ricin, and possession of information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing to commit an act of terrorism.

Rudakubana last appeared in court in November, when the case was adjourned.