Viewers have said the cast and crew of Little Boy Blue did murdered schoolboy Rhys Jones’s family proud, as the harrowing TV dramatisation came to an end.

The ITV programme told the story of the 11-year-old, who was gunned down by 16-year-old Sean Mercer on his way home from football practice in Croxteth, Liverpool, in 2007.

Sinead Keenan played the mother of Rhys Jones (Ian West/PA)
Sinead Keenan played the mother of Rhys Jones (Ian West/PA)

As the last instalment of the four-part series aired on Monday night, viewers went online to say how much the “thought-provoking” programme had moved them.

Fans predicted that Taboo actor Stephen Graham would be collecting accolades for his performance as Detective Superintendent Dave Kelly.

The entire series was a tough watch, said viewers, with scenes like the one where Rhys is shot leaving them “heartbroken”.

Many agreed that the dramatisation, which explored the impact of the crime amid a wave of gang violence, was an “important” piece of television that should be shown to young people as a warning.

The drama was written by Jeff Pope, executive producer of The Moorside, about the faked kidnapping of schoolgirl Shannon Matthews.