A service to remember those who have died or been injured on roads across St Helens and Merseyside will be held this weekend.

Taking place at St Georges Hall in Liverpool on Sunday (November 20) the event, organised by RoadPeace, is being held in the historic building's concert room at 1.30pm, during which tributes will be paid to loved ones who have died in road crashes.

Following the service, five doves will be released at the memorial to road crash victims in St. John’s Gardens behind St George's Hall at 2.30pm.

The doves are released in memory of the five people on average who die daily on the roads of this country. Following this there will be light refreshments and the opportunity to talk to others in the hall. During the service, tributes will be paid to loved ones who have died in road crashes. People of all faiths and those of no faith are welcome.

Pauline Fielding MBE, from Neston, organized the annual event for RoadPeace, where she turned to for support after her son Andrew was killed in 1994, at the age of just 18 years, in a crash caused by a driver who did not stay at the scene and who was never traced.

Pauline is now a trustee of the charity and coordinates NW activities. She says the service is a poignant way for people to pay tribute as well as raising awareness of how dangerous driving costs lives.

She added: "We invite all who have been bereaved or injured through road crashes, together with those who wish to support them, to join us for this special remembrance.

"In every death there are so many people affected and this service offers families and friends of those who have died or been injured the opportunity to come together and remember their loved ones.

"It is also a chance for us to give thanks to the emergency services for their support and to highlight this unacceptable death toll and reflect on what can be done to prevent further tragedies."

Lord Mayor of Liverpool, councillor Roy Gladden, said: "Each year at this time, our city can come together and remember those who have had their lives cut tragically short as a result of being involved in a road crash.

"It gives us the opportunity to stand in solidarity with the family and friends of these victims who grieve every day for the loss of their loved one.

"It will be an incredibly moving event of both reflection and raising awareness of how dangerous driving can cost lives."

Emily Spurrell, Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner said, “RoadPeace’s annual service of remembrance is a poignant opportunity to remember those who have lost their lives through road traffic crashes and their loved ones.

“So many people are affected by each and every death and it is vital that as a community we show they are in our thoughts and that support is always available.

“This annual service also acts as a stark reminder that we must continue to do everything possible to prevent other families from experiencing the same pain and suffering.”

Road deaths and injuries are sudden, violent and traumatic events, often with a lifelong and life-changing impact.

Last year, a total of 29 people lost their lives on the roads of Merseyside following a road crash. This is compared to 18 in 2020 and 22 in 2019.

The number of people seriously injured in traffic crashes in 2021 was 434 compared to 350 in 2020 and 442 in 2019.