An Anglican bishop who was present at Hillsborough on the day 96 people died has told Premier that we need to be praying for the families of the victims followi

Match commander David Duckenfield and former chief constable Sir Norman Bettison are among those who are facing charges,

Duckenfield has been charged with the manslaughter by gross negligence of 95 of the 96 disaster victims, while Bettison is charged with four offences of misconduct in public office.

All the defendants, except Duckenfield, will appear at Warrington Magistrates' Court on August 9.

With a full trial expected, recently retired Bishop of Brechin Rt Rev Nigel Peyton said it'll be yet more difficult times for those who lost loved ones.

Speaking to Premier, he said: "We continue to hold in our hearts everybody who was involved in this tragedy.

"Nobody can really understand and it's a big ask to expect families to forget or to forgive.

"I guess they're going to go through another phase of watching these proceedings take place.

"They're going to go through another period of expectation, uncertainty and pain - hearing the story re-lived all over again."

Hillsborough Family Support Group chairwoman Margaret Aspinall has said it is the "beginning of the end" after the Crown Prosecution Service announcement.

Speaking outside Parr Hall in Warrington, where the families were told the news, she said: "Every time we have been knocked down we have been determined to come back stronger."