Chief Inspector Chris Gibson said: “We continue to provide a policing presence at Alder Hey and recognise the sensitivities involved in this very difficult and sad situation.

“Whilst many people have gathered to protest in a peaceful way, Merseyside Police is now investigating a small number of reports, some of which originate from social media, as well as instances of verbal abuse and acts of intimidation from those outside the hospital. This is extremely unhelpful for all concerned and we are investigating further to establish the full circumstances.

“We would like to remind the public that this is a hospital for sick children and it should not be forgotten that many families are going through extremely challenging and emotional times. We would ask protestors to respect families and staff, including the poorly children in the wards and to ensure that access to the hospital is not restricted at any time, so that services including the blood and ambulance service can run as efficiently as possible.

“We recognise and seek to facilitate the rights of people to protest in a peaceful way. We are committed to maximising the safety of the public and we will not tolerate criminal behaviour under any circumstances. Anyone who may suffer intimidation or harassment is asked to report this to us or the hospital, so we can take the most appropriate action.”

Here’s a clip of a recording made from inside Alder Hey from a parent of a sick kid. You can clearly hear the noise outside. pic.twitter.com/RzfN0sm9s0

— Plink (@PlinketyPlink) 15 April 2018