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Comedian and actor John Bishop has donated £96,000 to the Hillsborough Family Support Group.

The Liverpool-born Reds fan explained to the Liverpool ECHO in a heartfelt letter that he made the personal donation in a bid to support the families.

He said it was inspired by his own experiences as a supporter and the impact of the family statements which have been read out at the fresh inquests.

Read all the latest Hillsborough news here

Bishop’s note read: “After 25 years, the families of the 96 are now hopefully moving closer to a resolution.

“Reading the family statements from the inquest has brought home to me once more the individual loss that so many suffered.

“The donation I have made is no more important than any other donation from any other individual trying to support the families over the last 25 years.

"In 1989, I laid flowers in front of the Kop to pay my respects to those who had lost their lives and show support to their families.

“Today, making a donation to help assist in bringing the end closer seems more appropriate.

"The dignity with which the families have sought justice for over a quarter of a century is a lesson to us all.

“They are the best of us and will never walk alone.”

The Hillsborough Family Support Group welcomed the gesture.

HFSG chair Margaret Aspinall, whose 18-year old-son James was one of those killed at Hillsborough, said: “John Bishop has supported us and he played in the Celebration of the 96 charity game (at Anfield last month) for us.

“To donate this money to the HFSG is a lovely gesture. And it’s lovely that he wanted to help the HFSG.”

The money will help the group with its work, funding office-running costs and travel expenses for meetings and talks the group attends up and down the country.

Walton MP Steve Rotheram said: “When John was unknown he would go to the Hillsborough memorial services to pay his respects as we all do.

“So it’s great that a local lad that has done well has not forgotten his roots. I think he is a wonderful human being.”

Bishop – also known for his charity work raising £3.4m for Sport Relief 2012 – was the only non-former Liverpool player to appear in the recent Celebration of the 96 charity match at Anfield on Easter Monday, coming on in the second half for the homegrown team.

The 47-year-old joked that because he was from Runcorn he should play in the international team which featured former Reds players from Holland, Finland, France, Portugal, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Spain and the Czech Republic.

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