DETECTIVES leading a criminal investigation into the Hillsborough disaster appealed yesterday for 19 people seen in CCTV footage at the stadium to come forward.

New images showing the potential witnesses at the Leppings Lane end of the football ground in Sheffield have been released by Operation Resolve as part of its inquiry into the disaster and the events which led to the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans.

The investigating team has released footage and still images of 19 people they want to speak to who can be seen in the area of Gate C when it was opened at 2.52pm on April 15 1989.

Senior investigator Detective Chief Superintendent Neil Malkin admitted it would be “difficult” for the people to recount their experiences 27 years later.

But he said: “It’s important because we need to understand the full facts around the opening of Gate C at 2.52.”