A teenage boy, 14 has appeared in court charged with the murder of a 12-year-old girl in Liverpool city centre.

Ava was out with friends in the city centre when she was attacked on Thursday and died shortly afterwards. She was stabbed minutes after the city lights switched on at 20:40 GMT.

The boy who hasn't been named for legal reasons was remanded in secure accommodation after appearing at Liverpool Magistrates' Court.

Thomas Hanlon, prosecuting, asked for the case to be sent to Liverpool crown court and for the defendant to be remanded in youth detention accommodation until then.

District Judge Wendy Lloyd said: "Because this is a murder case it has to go to the crown court, that is the only place murder cases can be tried.

"I am formally sending it to the crown court for Wednesday morning.

"Between now and then you are going to be kept in secure accommodation."

Three other boys, aged between 13 and 15, were also arrested and have been conditionally bailed as inquiries continue.

Merseyside Police said officers found Ava collapsed on the ground with "catastrophic injuries" in Church Alley.

She had been involved in a "verbal argument" which "escalated to an assault on her involving a knife", the force said.

Ava was taken to Alder Hey Children's Hospital after paramedics arrived but died a short time later.

Floral tributes have been left near the scene where she was attacked.