Southport victim Bebe King's mum speaks out for first time with 'incredible' tribute

The parents of three little girls killed in the have said their daughters will 'carry' their dads over the finish line of the London Marathon when they run it in their memory on Sunday.

Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Da Silva Aguiar, nine, were all killed when a teenager armed with a kitchen knife

Elsie's dad, David Stancombe and Alice's dad, Sergio Aguiar, will be among the 56,000 runners at the weekend, while the family of Bebe King will be in the crowd cheering them on. Speaking to the , David said: "When me and Elsie last year watched the London Marathon, I remember it like it was yesterday.

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"Elsie literally sat next to me on that day and said, 'Dad, run it for Nana T'. A little bit of me was like, 'oh, yeah, all right, Els'. I just never thought I'd be running it for these reasons. Elsie would be so happy to see me cross the finish line, especially for the London Marathon. She would just be so proud."

Elsie's mum, Jenni Stancombe said: "I know how much resilience and determination it needs to do it and I couldn't think of anyone more resilient and determined than David. I keep picturing him crossing that line, and I can feel myself getting choked up even at the thought of it. Never mind witnessing it. She'd be shouting from the line. You'd hear her above anybody else. She'd take his medal off straight away.

She added: "He himself will absolutely do it, I have no doubt, but I know Elsie will be the one that will carry him over that finish line... and I will be there waiting for him.

While Elsie's parents will be raising money for their daughter's charity, Alice's dad Sergio will be raising money for a new playground at Churchtown Primary school, where both Alice and Bebe were students. Running alongside Sergio will be Jinnie Payne, headteacher of the school.

Sergio said: "When I'm training I feel she is always with me, sometimes I talk to her, tell her to keep going, that we're going to do this together. It doesn't matter about pain or whatever we are going to do it. Twenty-six miles, I've never done anything like that before. But for my girl, I would do 26 or 50 - whatever."

Speaking publicly for the first time on the programme, Bebe King's mum Lauren said her family would be in the crowd cheering them on. Lauren said: "Bebe was pure joy, very funny, everything was in a dance everything was in a song, she just had this sparkle.

"It's just really special that all her friends from that school will have this lasting legacy of her. What a tribute, she would just be over the mood that she could bring some happiness to her friends and the kids of Churchtown.

"They were such wonderful, caring little children. Even though none of them knew each other, they were all so similar. And I reckon they are just up there watching over us and looking out for us."

Adding that she would be in the crowd with her husband, Lauren said: "It is just incredible what they are doing and we want to be a part of it."

During the eight minute segment, Elsie's mum and dad are seen walking together arm in arm as Jenni tells David how proud she is of him. David said a team of 30-40 supporters of Elsie's story would be descending on the marathon alongside him.

Jenni said: "Elsie was unforgettable. I use the word it was an 'honour' to be her mum and I will continue to do that because it was 100% an honour to be her mum.

"We established Elsie's Story and that's our way of continuing her legacy. It's a grant giving charity, giving to causes that bring joy, happiness, support to young children in the community. We know that Elsie wouldn't want it any other way.

"I keep saying, Elsie and those other girls will live longer than us. Elsie story and the work that we're doing in the community will continue that."

In a visit to Alice's school alongside headteacher Mrs Payne, Alice's dad Sergio is seen choking back tears as he asked the children never to forget his daughter's smile.

Alice's mum, Alexandra said: "She's always with us, and she is going to be there helping daddy. I am so proud of him for his courage to do this. Having her overlook the playground forever, making her feel special. And the same for Bebe.

Describing her daughter, she added: "Beautiful, intelligent, a drama queen sometimes, very kind, very caring, the best daughter we could have had."

It will be one year since the attack in July, which not only claimed three little lives, but left ten others fighting to survive in hospital for weeks.

Eight other children were also stabbed in the attack and two adults, including dance teacher, Leanne Lucas, who suffered life changing injuries and endured several trips in and out of hospital as part of her recovery.

Also injured was John Hayes, who heard the commotion and was stabbed in the leg as he ran to help the victims.

Axel Rudakubana, who admitted carrying out the horrific attack, was jailed for life with a minimum of 52 years in January. The 18-year-old was handed 13 life sentences after pleading guilty to all 10 charges against him just as his trial was set to get underway.

The twisted teenager was also sentenced for terror charges, after police found biological toxin ricin in a lunchbox under his bed and al-Qaeda material in his bedroom.