A MUM from Barrow has spoken of her horror as she desperately searched for her daughter during last night's terrorist attack.

A suicide bomber killed 22 people, including children, as an explosion tore through fans leaving a pop concert in Manchester.

Some 59 people were also injured when the blast caused by an improvised explosive device carried by the attacker detonated at the Manchester Arena.

Rebecca Jackson's 14-year-old daughter Amy was at the concert with her school friend Ellisa, also 14.

The two girls were attending the gig on their own, having been dropped off by mum Rebecca and Amy's older sister Charlie.


Mrs Jackson said: "It was the first time we'd allowed them to go to a concert by themselves, we said they had to be 14.

"Me and my eldest daughter Charlie went for some tea in Manchester after dropping them off, and thankfully we'd made sure she knew her surroundings and where to go afterwards.

"At about 10pm we made our way to the arena and waited by the exit where the box office was, where they were selling t-shirts.

"Amy's seat is close to the box office, which is where the explosion happened but thankfully she had decided to go to the toilet five minutes before the end.

"All of a sudden we heard this loud, dull thud and the ground shook. It was like nothing I'd heard before, we thought there'd been a train crash or something.

"I kept trying to ring Amy and eventually got through, then there was a second explosion, which sounded like a gunshot, and she was screaming. Then the phone went dead.

"I was desperately trying to run inside, shouting for Amy, as all these people were trying to get out.

"It was probably only a couple of minutes, but it felt like a lifetime, and then she was there. I just grabbed them and we ran to the car. We still didn't know what had happened but we just wanted to get as far away from there as possible."

Mrs Jackson and the girls drove to a service station, where they realised what had happened as they listened to a local radio station. They have all since returned home safely.

The Evening Mail understands that all those who travelled to the concert via a Millennium Travel coach from Barrow returned home safe at 12.45am.

Julie O’Connor, the headteacher of Dowdales School said: "Of course everyone is talking about the terrible events at the concert in Manchester last night. We know that ten of our students and one member of staff were at the concert.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those who died and have been injured and the people of Manchester.

"We are offering counselling support to our students who were at Manchester Arena last night and we have come together as a school community this morning to be there for each other. Everyone in a school will feel the pain this morning, working so closely as we do with children and young people."

Ulverston Victoria High School, Furness Academy, Chetwynde School and Barrow Sixth Form College had students attending the concert. The students are safe and well and the schools and college have offered packages of support and counselling.

Police were called to reports of an explosion at the Manchester Arena at 10.33pm, shortly after the US singer had finished her performance.

Victims described being thrown by the blast that scattered nuts and bolts across the floor.

PR executive Jacqueline Fletcher, who worked in Barrow when Frankie & Benny's restaurant opened, was also at the concert.

She said: "I made it safe from the concert. An awful end to the evening.

"I heard a loud explosion and then scrambled with everyone else to get out.

"I saw lots of bloodied and injured people."

Last night represents the worst terrorist attack in the UK since 56 people were killed in the 7/7 London bombings in 2005. All national General Election campaigning was suspended after the explosion.

Greater Manchester Police chief constable Ian Hopkins said a "fast-moving investigation" had established the attack was conducted by one man, although detectives are working to establish if he was "was acting alone or as part of a network".

"The attacker, I can confirm, died at the arena.

"We believe the attacker was carrying an improvised explosive device which he detonated, causing this atrocity."

The police chief added: "This has been the most horrific incident we have had to face in Greater Manchester and one that we all hoped we would never see.

"Families and many young people were out to enjoy a concert at the Manchester Arena and have lost their lives.

"Our thoughts are with those 22 victims that we now know have died, the 59 people who have been injured and their loved ones.

"We continue to do all we can to support them."

A controlled explosion was carried out by police at the Cathedral Gardens area near Manchester Arena shortly after 1.30am.

Police said the suspicious item at the centre of the controlled explosion was just abandoned clothing.

Theresa May will chair a meeting of the Government's emergency Cobra committee at 9am on Tuesday following the Manchester explosion which is being treated as an "appalling terrorist attack".

The Prime Minister said the authorities were working to establish what happened at the Manchester Arena, after 19 people were confirmed dead following reports of an explosion at an Ariana Grande concert.

Mrs May said: "We are working to establish the full details of what is being treated by the police as an appalling terrorist attack.

"All our thoughts are with the victims and the families of those who have been affected."

Transport:

The attack in Manchester has caused disruption for travellings going to and from the city.

Manchester Victoria Station is closed as the British Transport Police conduct their investigation in the area. It is expected to remain closed for at least the remainder of today.

Northern have announced a revised timetable in response to the closure at Victoria.

It will operate services on the following routes to replace those which would normally call at Manchester Victoria:

• Huddersfield – Stalybridge

• Wigan – Salford (via Atherton)

• Leeds – Rochdale

• Blackpool – Manchester Oxford Road

• Clitheroe - Bolton – Blackburn

• Kirby – Wigan