The Bishop of Liverpool has been appointed as the head of a panel to oversee the release of files on the Hillsborough disaster.

The Rt Rev James Jones will lead the five-man panel charged with making thousands of documents related to the 1989 tragedy in which 96 Liverpool fans were crushed to death in the stands at Hillsborough Stadium, the grounds of Sheffield Wednesday.

They include documents from the emergency services, the Sheffield Coroner, Sheffield council and Sheffield Wednesday FC.

This is Anfield quoted the Bishop of Liverpool as saying: “I want to assure especially the Hillsborough families I will give myself wholeheartedly to the work of the independent panel.

“The fact that 30,000 people came to Anfield for the Hillsborough 20th anniversary service shows how deep the wound is still, and how great the longing is for healing.

“I am very aware that although many have waited years for this independent panel, the recalling of 15th April 1989 will nevertheless be a very painful and difficult time for all who were affected and for the cities of Liverpool, Sheffield and Nottingham.”

The Home Secretary is yet to confirm the other four panel members but Hillsborough chronicler Professor Phil Scraton is believed to be among them.

The documents are being released after 20 years of campaigning by the Hillsborough Family Support Group.