Hero dance class teacher, 35, 'took knife blows to save children, bent over two little girls and used her body to shield them from knifeman' in Southport attack

A hero dance teacher who was left critically injured after a horror stabbing rampage in Southport which killed three young girls took knife blows to the arms, back and neck as she protected children with her body, it's been revealed today.

Leanne Lucas, who organised the Taylor Swift-themed holiday club, has had life-saving surgery and is now awake, her family said on Wednesday.

Recounting Ms Lucas' actions after the knifeman entered the class through an open door and began attacking children, a relative described how she bent over two little girls, shielding them with her own body, as she was repeatedly struck from behind.

The 35-year-old had managed to bundle several people into a storage cupboard to protect them and then bravely stepped in as the attacker advanced on two young children, the Times reports. 

Her cousin Chris Rimmer, 41, said she sounded 'broken'. 

Alice Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Stancombe, seven, were killed at the class when a hooded knifeman burst in and began stabbing the children in attendance.

A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, remains in police custody after being arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder as officers secured extra time to question him. 

Police say they are not looking for anyone else and the incident is not being treated as terrorism. 

Five other children remain in a critical condition in hospital alongside two adults - one of whom is thought to be Ms Lucas. 

She and fellow teacher Heidi Barlow who were leading the class, which also involved yoga and friendship bracelet making, courageously tried to save as many of the children in their care as they could.

Ms Barlow, 35, is said to have locked herself in a toilet with several children, saving their lives. 

Ms Lucas' family were told by first responders at the scene how she pushed two people into a stoarge room, then 'bent over two little girls' and used her body as a shield to protect them.

'She put her arms up, all her arms are cut,' Mr Rimmer said. 

He added Ms Lucas's bravery was all the more extraordinary due to her small stature: 'She's tiny and she's as thin as a rake.' 

Mr Rimmer said his cousin is 'just worried about everyone else' and that she 'always thinks about everyone else before herself.'

He told the paper online rumours Ms Lucas had died made the excruciating wait for news all the harder.

And after attending the peaceful vigil to remember the three girls killed, the landscaping firm he works for is today assisting with the clean-up operation.

Her bravery was also hailed by relatives as her loved ones hope for further good news. 

'She's only tiny, she wouldn't have stood a chance against a man with a knife, but she just wanted to protect those children,' said her aunt, Pauline Bennett, 64.

'I can't imagine what she would have been thinking when he came through the door.

'It all happened so quickly, she just did what she could. Her sister stayed at her bedside all night and her parents are with her now.

'We're just hoping and praying that she's going to be ok. Leanne loves teaching children, it's all she's ever wanted to do.

'She just loves children. It's just heartbreaking that someone could do something like this.'

A former school friend said: 'To my knowledge she organised it, she used to be a primary school teacher at a local school.

'She was really really lovely. I only knew her from high school. Quite quiet, she was primary school teacher, she wanted to help people.

'That's why you get into it, to do everything you can and that's what she's done.'

A neighbour of her parents John and Allison said: 'It's absolutely horrendous, they're a lovely family.

'We're all just too upset to say anything at the moment.'

It comes after Merseyside Police said four people have been arrested over riots last night which followed a touching vigil for the victims.

Up to 300 people are believed to have been involved, with cars and bins set alight, missiles thrown at police and a mosque attacked.

Police officers believe most of those involved were not from Stockport and were supporters of the English Defense League. 

An update issued this afternoon revealed 54 officers were injured with 27 taken to hospital. 

Speaking this afternoon, Serena Kennedy, chief constable of Merseyside Police, said there 'were about 70 people who made their way away from the vigil and were making their way towards the mosque.

'They suddenly became about 200 in number and then others joined that number.'

In a statement released shortly afterwards, Merseyside Police said a 31-year-old man from St Helens, a 31-year-old man from West Derby and a 39-year-old man from Southport were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder.

A 32-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of affray and possession of a bladed article. 

A spokesperson said: 'The offenders destroyed garden walls to use the bricks as missiles to attack officers and set cars belonging to the public on fire at random. 

'Those involved also threw bricks at the local Mosque, damaged a local convenience store, and set wheelie bins on fire.

'Three police dogs were also injured. After having bricks thrown at them, Police Dog Zoe sustained a laceration to her leg, has been stitched and is now resting, and PD Ike is recovering after sustaining a cut mouth and swelling to his front leg. 

'PD Quga suffered burns to her back leg. A fourth dog, PD Repo, was spared injury after their handler kicked petrol away.'