The families of Dunblane massacre victims are set to light candles on the 10th anniversary of the massacre of 16 children and their teacher.
Parents of the murdered children will mark the anniversary privately, in quiet reflection of the day that changed their lives forever. They have chosen not to hold a special memorial service and have appealed to be allowed the chance to grieve in private.
Sixteen children and their teacher Gwen Mayor were killed on March 13 1996 when misfit loner Thomas Hamilton burst into Dunblane Primary School gym and opened fire, before shooting himself.
The world looked on in horror as details of the bloody massacre unfolded.
Thousands of candles were lit all over the world on the first anniversary of the shootings in 1997 following a request from the families.
In a statement to the Scottish Press Association, a spokesman for the victims' families said:
"On the anniversary we will be lighting candles, as we have done every year, and will recall with great affection how so many people in Dunblane and beyond also lit candles on the first anniversary to show that our children and their teacher were not forgotten.
"We hope they will be remembered on this 10th anniversary."
Hundreds of thousands of people signed petitions calling for a ban on handguns in the wake of the massacre.
Despite widespread opposition from the gun lobby, in 1997 the Government introduced tough gun controls.
PA