CHARLOTTE Campbell has told of the emotional night she experienced at the We Are Manchester concert.

The mother of Olivia Campbell-Hardy attended the concert on Saturday with her fiancé Paul Hodgson and said she suffered panic attacks during the night and found it difficult to pass the area where her daughter was killed.

Ms Campbell said: "We both found it quite hard. Going in and going out we found quite hard and I suffered a couple of panic attacks but we were very well supported there.

"The security and staff were amazing and we hope they keep it up."

She revealed they entered the Arena using the same route Olivia had taken.

Olivia, who lived in Bury, was 15 when suicide bomber Salman Abedi detonated his homemade bomb in the arena foyer, killing Olivia and 21 others.

After Clint Boon warmed up the crowd with a DJ set, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham took to the stage and read out the names of those killed in the bombing on Monday, May 22.

Ms Campbell said: "When Andy Burnham read that out it was really hard to hear. It brought it back to light again and when Tony Walsh read his poem that was very emotional too. He's an amazing man and it's very true about Manchester and how strong we are."

The concert was hosted by comedian Russell Kane and number of acts performed on the night, including Rick Astley, Pixie Lott and Blossoms.

Bolton comedian Peter Kay, who used to work as a steward at the Manchester Arena introduced headline act Noel Gallagher and his High Flying Birds.

Ms Campbell said: "Peter Kay touched a lot of people with his words. He's been there a long time and he worked for them before, he was amazing."

On Saturday, Mr Kay said: "There's been a lot of joy in this room over the years, including the night of May 22, right up until the terrorist attack.

"These last four months have been incredibly painful.

"Horrendous is putting it mildly. But that's why you're here — because we can't let terrorists win."

Ms Campbell told The Bury Times she found the crowds difficult to deal with on the night and used the support provided by Survivors Assistance Network (SAN) at the arena.

She said: "I started panicking about coming out and then because of the amount of people and where we were no one was moving.

"I started to think something had happened but then it cleared quite quickly but we held back until the crowds had gone."

She praised the security and support staff saying they did not rush anyone and said she was able to use the support room to have a quiet moment with a cup of tea and compose herself.

Terry O'Hara, the project leader for SAN was there on the night and was one of the people who helped Charlotte and others on the night. He said around 30 people came to them during the concert.

Mr O'Hara said: "We have been working with the arena and Greater Manchester Police just to have things in place for people who found the evening a bit difficult.

"We were provided with a site out of sight of the stage, it was secluded and people who were struggling could come and have a chat."

He said there were no plans to have the same service at the arena in future but SAN was in talks to build the capacity of the arena and its staff to be able to support visitors in a similar way in future.

Possibly leading to the arena creating its own support team.

Ms Campbell revealed she, Paul and other family members, would be returning the arena on Saturday for another concert with very special significance to them.

They have been invited to the John Legend concert because of the recording of Olivia singing John Legend's hit All Of Me, which for the family has become 'Olivia's song'.

Ms Campbell said: "It's amazing to be invited, that he had thought of us in that way and to know Olivia has touched his heart is so special.

"I just hope and pray he does her song. It will be upsetting for us but incredible at the same time. To me, it's a little piece of Olivia being kept alive."

Ms Campbell hoped returning to the arena would be easier the second time.