HFSG launch Twitter account
The Hillsborough Family Support Group have explained why they hope the launch of their official Twitter account will help keep supporters up to date with the latest developments in their campaign for justice.
The HFSG created their Twitter page over the weekend - and with the Hillsborough Independent Panel set to disclose documents relating to the disaster and its aftermath to the families of those who died later this year - they hope it will prove a valuable tool in assisting with communication with fans.
Margaret Aspinall, HFSG chair, said: "We've had support for all these years. We've got to try and keep everybody informed because we're getting support from all over the world.
"We've got to keep people informed, but I can't say we'll be able to do that on the day (of document disclosure) because we don't know what our emotions are going to be like.
"It's going to be a difficult time for the families, no matter what comes out. It's going to be emotional, but as soon as we can we will Tweet it to get it across and also to the media as well."
Within hours of setting up @HFSG_Official, the account had amassed hundreds of followers - and Mrs Aspinall admits she's been amazed by the response.
She explained: "So many people had been in touch with us asking, 'Why aren't you on Twitter' and 'Why aren't you on Facebook?'
"After a good talk with some people from Australia on Saturday that I decided it might be a good idea, so my daughter and I set it up and the support we've had so far has been absolutely tremendous.
"It's been an amazing response. Within about two hours, we had around 400-500 people (following) - I was quite amazed by it.
"It's a thing I'm sorry we didn't do a long time ago, actually. But now we have and hopefully we can keep everybody informed on where we're up to and what we're doing."
Looking ahead to the release of previously unseen documents relating to the disaster by the Hillsborough Independent Panel on September 12, Mrs Aspinall added: "I've said to people, 'We've waited 23 years, it's just a couple more months.'
"You say a couple of months, but if you look at it in terms of weeks, it's only seven or eight weeks (away) at the most.
"Hopefully everybody will be patient. Let's see what comes out in that report and hopefully we'll get what we should have had 23 years ago, not just for the 96 but for all of the survivors of that day as well."