The family of a 26-year old woman killed in a shooting at a pub on Christmas Eve ‘need answers’, police have said.

Elle Edwards was fatally shot at the Lighthouse pub in Wallasey Village, Wirral, shortly before midnight on Saturday, December 24.

The beautician, who was not thought to be the target of the attack, was described by her family as ‘the most beautiful and bright star’ and ‘the glue that held our family together’.

Police have arrested a 31-year-old man from Tranmere on suspicion of conspiracy to murder, but are yet to press any formal charges.

A statement from her father Tim Edwards on behalf of the family, read out at a press conference by Merseyside Police detective superintendent Sue Coombs, said: ‘There was no one as beautiful as our Elle May, her looks, her laugh and the way she would light up a room as soon as she walked in.

‘She had this way about her that as soon as you met her, you just instantly fell in love with her, everyone that met Elle knew how special she was.’

‘Christmas and our family will never be the same again without her. She was the glue that held this big family together.’

Beautician Elle Edwards, 26, was killed in a shooting at a pub in Wallasey on Christmas Eve (Picture: PA)

The statement added: ‘We will love and miss her forever. Our Elle May, the most beautiful and bright star out there, forever and always.

During the press conference, Ms Coombs also appealed for information on a dark-coloured Mercedes that was seen in the pub car park on the night of the shooting.

‘We want to know where it came from and where it’s gone since then.’

She said: ‘We know that the answers to this lie within our communities.

‘So my appeal to you is please tell us what you know and help us get justice for Elle’s family.

Her family say they are ‘devasted’ by the loss and that their daughter was ‘the glue that held their family together’ (Picture: PA)

Merseyside Police have appealed for information on a dark-coloured Mercedes spotted in the pub car park on the night of the shooting (Picture: PA)

Ms Coombs added: ‘Elle’s family are understandably devastated by her shocking and needless death.

‘They need answers and now it’s more important than ever that people come forward and tell us what they know.’

‘We need people to take a stand against criminals.

‘These people don’t deserve to be walking our streets, they don’t deserve to be protected, they belong in prison.

‘We’ve already spoken to a large number of witnesses and reviewed a vast amount of CCTV footage and we are still pursuing a number of lines of inquiry.

‘We are committed to finding the persons responsible for Elle’s death and putting them behind bars.’

In addition to the man already held in custody, another Tranmere-based suspect who had previously been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder has been recalled to prison.

Meanwhile, a 19-year-old woman from Rock Ferry, who was held on suspicion of conspiracy to murder, has been released on bail, according to police.

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Elle Edward’s dad Tim paid an emotional tribute to his daughter on behalf of their family at a police press conference.