A MOTION calling on retailers in the borough to stop selling The Sun newspaper was passed by St Helens Council this week.

At the meeting on Wednesday evening, the motion put forward by Parr councillor Terry Shields asked the authority to support the 'Total Eclipse of The Sun' campaign, which encourages shops not to sell the tabloid newspaper due to the paper's controversial coverage of the Hillsborough disaster.

Councillors approved the motion at the town hall. The three Conservative councillors abstained from the vote.

According to a spokeswoman, the campaign group has support from from Merseytravel, Liverpool City Council, Wirral Council, West Lancashire Council, Sefton Council, Strabane & Derry Council and most recently Preston Council, all of which have all passed motions to urge all retailers and vendors of newspapers in the regions to stop selling The Sun.

The motion stated: "St Helens Council notes that a disaster at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield on April 15, 1989 led ultimately to the deaths of 96 innocent people who had left their homes that morning to watch a football match.

"Due to crowd control mismanagement, those fans, whose ages ranged from 10 to 67 years old, lost their lives."

It added: "Contrary to the facts, The Sun newspaper published a front page story with the banner headline 'The Truth'. The accompanying story contained blatant lies such as: 'Drunken Liverpool fans viciously attacked workers as they tried to revive victims' and 'Police officers, firemen and ambulance crew were punched, kicked and urinated upon'."

It added: "The council wishes to express its disgust that these slurs on the victims of this disaster were published by a British national newspaper" adding: "The council recognises and will not forget the hurt and distress caused to the people of Merseyside by the lies and smears printed in The Sun, and, in particular, the distress caused to the families of the 96.

"Neither will the council forget The Sun's refusal to apologise properly for the hurt it caused, until it was clear that public opinion demanded such an apology.

"This council notes the campaigns to eliminate The Sun newspaper from Merseyside and their call on all retailers and vendors of newspapers to stop selling this newspaper."

Total Eclipse of The Sun describe themselves as a peaceful active campaign group with more than 50,000 members.

A spokeswoman says: "We have enjoyed great success now having over 240 establishments not selling. This includes small newsagents, major supermarkets and petrol stations. Cafes, pubs, hotels and local hospitals, have also joined in, showing their support to the campaign."

Following the meeting, St Helens Conservative leader Cllr Allan Jones said: "The Conservative group totally support the Hillsborough families and deplore the actions of the Sun newspaper and are pleased the inquiry finally brought out the truth.

"But we can't in all seriousness support anything that dissuades people from purchasing a free press."