Pope Francis has sent a message to the families of those who died in the Plymouth shootings.

The letter, sent to the Roman Catholic Bishop of Plymouth, the Right Reverend Mark O'Toole, expressed the Pope's "spiritual closeness and blessing" to the bereaved and his hopes that people can "overcome every evil with good". 

Sent last week via the Secretary of State at the Vatican, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the message read :

"Saddened to learn of last Thursday's shooting in Plymouth, his Holiness Pope Francis asks you kindly to convey to those affected the assurance of his spiritual closeness.

'He joins you in commending the souls of those who died to Almighty God's loving mercy and he implores the divine gifts of healing and consolation upon the injured and bereaved.'

'With prayers that Christ the Redeemer will grant to all the strength to renounce violence and to overcome every evil with good. His Holiness cordially imparts his apostolic blessing.'

22 year old  Jake Davison, shot and killed five people including his mother before turning the gun on himself in the worst mass shooting in the UK in more than a decade.