The Lord Mayor of Liverpool yesterday said the city can relate to the suffering caused by the Heysel disaster.

Speaking at a commemoration service yesterday to mark today's 25th anniversary of the tragedy in which 39 football fans died, Hazel Williams drew a comparison with Hillsborough.

She said: "We as a city know more than most about football-related tragedy and the scale of human suffering."

The football fans, who were mainly Italian, were killed when a wall collapsed amid scenes of violence shortly before Liverpool played Juventus in the European Cup final at Belgium's ageing national stadium.

She added: "Regardless of how much time passes, we will never forget those people who didn't return to their families.

"Today we would like to send a message to the people of Turin and the wider football community that Liverpool acknowledges your loss."

Addressing about thirty people gathered inside Liverpool Town Hall including representatives from Italy, she said: "As a city we will do everything possible to offer you our apologies and support."

After a candle was lit and a two-minute silence was observed, the Consul for Italy Nunzia Bertali, said: "I want to say how much I appreciate your gesture of wanting to commemorate the victims of such a horrible tragedy.

"The fact that the council along with the higher representatives of the city are present today is for me a sign of great courage and responsibility.

"Given the circumstances it would have been much easier to forget than to remember."

The Rector of Liverpool, Steven Brookes, then led a prayer.

The commemorations continued outside as the bells of Liverpool Town Hall rang 39 times, once for each of the victims of the tragedy on May 29, 1985.

Mrs Bertali and Ms Williams joined hands as the bells rang out.

Following the disaster in which a further 600 supporters were injured, English clubs were handed a five-year ban from European football.

The game went ahead, despite objections from both managers, and Juventus won the match 1-0 with a second half penalty.

Those who died were aged between 11 and 58. They included 32 Italian fans of Juventus, four Belgians, two French people and a man from Northern Ireland.

Despite criticism of both UEFA and the Belgian Football Association over the condition of the stadium and the ticketing allocation, no official inquiry into the disaster was held.

No further football matches took place at Heysel and, in 1994, the stadium was demolished and the King Baudouin Stadium built on the site.