Libby Squire's mum: 'She used to say: ‘I’m number one’ - she is still my big girl'

Lisa Squire, from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, said the family had their good and bad days, but were “getting there slowly”.

Libby, 21, vanished in the early hours of February 1 last year after she was turned away from the Welly nightclub in Beverley Road, Hull.

Her body was later pulled from the Humber Estuary.

In a poignant interview with Hull Community Church leader Anne Dannerolle, Mrs Squire said it must be hard for her children to see their mother crying.

She said: "The pain never goes away but it certainly has softened."

She said her daughter had comforted her when she found her sprawled on the floor of Libby's bedroom,.

"She has sat there and been there for me - so there are times when my children have mothered me rather than me mothering them."

On Friday a new bench was unveiled as a permanent memorial to Miss Squire on Beverley Road in Hull, which has been a focal point for tributes since she went missing in February 2019.

Mrs Squire said she was grateful for people's continued love and support, adding: "Thank you for turning that space into a really lovely tribute to Libby.

"It does look beautiful. We are really grateful for that.

"Libby is still very much part of our family, she never fails to put a smile on our faces, when we think about her and her funny ways."

She said the family had been sat talking about her in their garden recently and it had been as if she was still there.

Any cards she send she signs Libby's name too. Mrs Squire said: "She's still part of our family and always will be.

"We all miss her, it gets harder and harder every day.

"We know she is safe, she is at peace.

"She's still a big presence. She used to say: ‘I’m number one’ and she still is - she is still my big girl.”

The man accused of murdering Libby, Pawel Relowicz, 25, is due to stand trial next year.

Her body was recovered from the Humber Estuary, nearly seven weeks after she disappeared following an evening out with friends.