BLACKBURN Rovers fans showed their solidarity with the family of murdered Rhys Jones on Saturday - and called for more police to curb the rise in gun crime.

More than 1,000 Rovers fans travelled to an emotionally charged Goodison Park on Saturday to watch their team grind out a 1-1 draw with Everton.

And before kick off they stood side-by-side with the Merseysiders paying tribute to Rhys, 11, who was gunned down on Wednesday night on his way home from football practice.

Wearing his Everton shirt, the season ticket holder died on a car park in the Croxteth area of Liverpool.

At Saturday's game his mum Mel, dad Stephen, and older brother Owen, stood near the dug-outs flanked by Mark Hughes and Everton boss David Moyes as the players and crowd stood for a minute's applause to mark his death.

His mum asked for applause rather than silence, and many Rovers fans were visibly moved.

Earlier in the week Everton captain, Phil Neville, who lives in Crawshawbooth, led the club's response to the shooting by appealing for people to come forward with information in a video posted on the club website.

For many at the ground, the shooting was another example of the perils youngsters face on the streets of 21st century Britain.

Father-of-two Andy Lamb, 36, from Hollins Grove, Darwen, said he was worried to let his sons aged two and four years play in front of the house He said: "Last month there were three or four shootings or stabbings and that was just in Darwen. It's getting out of hand. Police do a good job but patrols need to be stepped up and more police on the streets.

"I feel so sorry for the parents of Rhys and my heart goes out to them. For them to be here today showed a lot of courage."

David Ashworth, 31, of Acc-rington Road, Blackburn, had similar concerns for his eight-year-old daughter. He said: "You should be able to let children play out but you don't know whether it's the right thing to do because violence seems to be on the increase.

"Things are getting worse and maybe more police would help but if someone wants to get hold of a gun they will do. It's scary that those carrying out these crimes are so young."