A STAGGERING £68,000 has been raised to support the young family of murdered PC David Phillips.

The official fundraising page, set up by Merseyside Police Federation, has raised £57,436 in memory of the 34-year-old, who was killed in the line of duty in the early hours of Monday morning.

Wirral Globe:
PC David Phillips, pictured here with his wife Jen and children Abigail, seven, and Sophie, three, was killed in a hit-and-run in Wallasey.

A separate fundraising page, set up by a member of the public, has raised £11,129 - taking the total so far to £68,565.

Tributes are continuing to pour in for the fallen officer David Phillips, who was killed in a hit-and-run in Wallasey.

The online page was launched by the Merseyside Police Federation Charitable Trust to support the family of PC Phillips, which includes his wife Jen and daughters Abigail, seven, and Sophie, three.

It reads: "In the early hours of Monday 5th October Dave Phillips was tragically killed on duty after he was struck by a stolen vehicle in Wallasey on Merseyside. He was simply doing his job.

Wirral Globe:
Seven-year-old Abigail lays flowers for her dad.

"For the second time in 10 months we have been touched and heartened by the messages of sympathy and support we have received from all over the United Kingdom and beyond.

"Large numbers have contacted us wishing to make a donation to support Dave's family so we have set up the Constable Dave Phillips Memorial Fund.

"Dave's family will decide how the fund will be spent and the fund will be independently audited by Kinsella Clarke Chartered Accountants.

Wirral Globe:
Wife Jen and daughters Sophie and Abigail lay flowers near to where PC David Phillips was killed.

"Every penny donated via this Justgiving page will be transferred to Dave's memorial fund.

"The entire Police Family is in mourning at his death, and this memorial fund enables people to donate in Dave's memory."

Federation chairman Peter Singleton said: "We are all devastated by the loss of one of our members, Constable 6554 David Phillips.

"We send our deepest condolences to Dave’s wife Jen, and daughters Abigail and Sophie, as well as other family, colleagues and friends."

PC Phillips' family today left flowers close to the scene of the fatal hit-and-run.

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Heart-warming messages have been left on the 'RIP David Phillips PC killed in the line of duty' Facebook page.

A candlelit vigil is set to take place at 7pm tonight at Fort Perch Rock, with people expected to let off lanterns and balloons.

Mandy Fellows, who set up the page, said: "We’re meeting at about 7pm to let off lanterns, balloons, light candles in memory of David.

"We thought it would be wonderful for everyone to get together to show our support and heartfelt sympathy to David and his family after this tragic act by a person who needs to be caught.

"This wonderful officer went to work leaving his wife and children expecting to return and now he will not, I cannot imagine how they feel or his fellow officers.

"We all just need to get together and light a candle for him, to show how much we appreciate what these men and women do day in day out and to remember PC David Phillips."

PC David Phillips "didn't stand a chance" when he was struck by the stolen Mitsubishi L200 Challenger after deploying a tyre deflator stinger in a bid to bring the vehicle to a halt during a high-speed chase.

It came directly at him and a young colleague as they tried to stop it with a "stinger" device to puncture its wheels.

Sir Jon Murphy, chief constable of Merseyside, said the father of two, "did not stand a chance" as he was hit by the truck, stolen in a burglary and later found abandoned in Corbyn Street, Wallasey at 2.55am.

Colleagues of the officer tried to save his life before he was rushed to hospital, but he died shortly after arrival.

A Home Office post-mortem examination said the officer died from internal injuries suffered in the impact with the vehicle.

The stolen car was found abandoned a short time later in Corbyn Street.

Speaking at Monday's press conference, chief constable Sir Jon Murphy said it is vital that witnesses come forward.

"We have got no idea who has done this. I have got every confidence we will find who has done this but that appeal for information is really important."

Chair of Merseyside Police Federation Peter Singleton said it was a "desolate day".

He described PC Phillips as a "dedicated husband and father".

Police said the neighbourhood patrol officer had been deployed to assist following a burglary at an estate agent's premises in Woodchurch Road, Birkenhead, just after 1am.

During the burglary the offenders stole a red Mitsubishi L200 Challenger - branded with the estate agent's livery - which was spotted by a police patrol at 1.28am.

Officers then went in pursuit – resulting in a 40 minute chase.

At 2.08am, the Mitsubishi was being driven along Wallasey Dock North Road when it appeared to deliberately mount the central reservation where PC Phillips and a colleague were standing after throwing down a tyre deflator.

Two men remain in police custody after being arrested on Tuesday afternoon on suspicion of the officer's murder. Two women are also in custody after being arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

  • Anyone with information is asked to call Matrix serious organised crime unit on 0800 230 0600 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
     
  • If you wish to donate, visit ​ http://campaign.justgiving.com/charity/mpfct/dave or or text DAVE01 £10 (or your amount) to 70070 to the Dave Phillips Memorial Fund