Communities in the US state of Connecticut are marking the second anniversary of the Sandy Hook elementary school shootings.

This day two years ago, a gunman shot and killed 20 children and six adults at the school.

It saw more than 150,000 people sign a petition calling for tougher gun restrictions.

However US senators voted against proposals to introduce background checks and plans for tighter gun controls.

The Newtown school was demolished back in October 2013.

Maryanne Jacobs - the school's assistant librarian - hid with 18 children on the day of the attack.

The shooter, Adam Lanza (20), murdered the children and staff with a semi-automatic rifle, before taking his own life himself.

He had earlier shot his mother at their Newtown home.

Seven 911 calls were released to media under Freedom of Information rules one year after the tragedy.

CNN aired a selection of the 911 calls back in 2013.