WARRINGTON’S two MPs at the time, Mike Hall and Doug Hoyle, were among the VIPs at Saturday's anniversary event.

Mr Hall, then MP for Warrington South, recalled a 'dark day for this town'.

He said: "There are lots of reasons for coming here today - it's the 20th anniversary for one of the most tragic events in Warrington's history.

"I was in this building (the Parr Hall) that day. It was absolutely chaotic in the town when rumours came through that a bomb had gone off in Bridge Street.

“Today brings back very traumatic memories for me, particularly walking around Bridge Street in the aftermath of the bomb.”

Lord Hoyle, then Warrington North MP Doug, said he went with Mr Hall to Bridge Street and found a desolate scene.

“They were still treating people when we got there who had been injured.

“We saw there were two bodies but we weren’t aware they were children. What type of people can do this?

“I did say I could never forgive at the time but I have spoken to Sinn Fein since and heard them apologise. And we had to overcome it and to bring about peace, which we have done.”