The new commissioner for the independent police investigation into Hillsborough said her son was a "visual reminder" of the families' wait for justice.

Rachel Cerfontyne, who has taken over from Deborah Glass as lead commissioner on the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) cover-up investigation, said she gave birth to her first child the day after Hillsborough.

She said: "I was going in to hospital when the news was breaking on the radio and I remember hearing the panic in the reporter's voice.

"I know how long it's been because back then my son was only so big and now he's 6ft 1in, but they still haven't got justice.

"My son's football mad and I used to say to him 'you were born in the shadow of Hillsborough'.

"When I got this role he said to me 'Mum, that was your destiny'."

Ms Cerfontyne said she had been "daunted" about taking over the investigation but that the victims' families were her motivation.

She said: "I have spent a lot of time with the families and I have been really grateful and quite moved by the fact they have been willing to spend hours with me, when in a sense they're starting over.

"I don't think anyone can spend time with the families without being very moved and struck by their dignity, given how much they have been through."

She added: "They are awe-inspiring. That's where my motivation comes from."

She said the deadline of having evidence ready for the inquests in March was "challenging" but things were on track.

She added: "We are in absolutely no doubt about how important it is to deliver.

"The families have made that clear and the coroner has absolutely made clear the timetable is immovable."

Ms Cerfontyne said she was pleased with the 1,500 responses to a witness appeal issued by the IPCC.

She said: "We're very pleased by how many people responded and grateful for the support we've been given.

"It must be terribly nerve-wracking for people to come forward and we understand how difficult it could be.

"It's very emotional and they have had such a long time having to live with this so we can't underestimate for a minute what that must be like."

Source: Liverpool Echo