The government is considering whether to challenge the prison sentence handed to Southport killer Axel Rudakubana as being “unduly lenient”. The 18-year-old was sentenced on Thursday to life in prison with a minimum term of 52 years for the murders of three girls and attempted murders of eight other children and two adults.

Axel Rudakubana was expected to be sentenced to life in prison at Liverpool Crown Court for the murders of three young girls and attempted murders of eight other children in Southport in July.

The parents of girls murdered by Axel Rudakubana have told Liverpool Crown Court of their "pain and fear" as they describe the impact the murders have had on their lives, as the killer is sentenced. The 18-year-old stabbed Alice da Silva Aguiar,