Arena victims to be remembered with drone display

The dad of youngest arena bombing victim Saffie-Rose Roussos said the show would be a "fitting tribute"

The father of a schoolgirl who was killed in the Manchester Arena attack has planned an event to remember the 22 victims' "vibrant personalities".

Andrew Roussos' eight-year-old daughter Saffie-Rose died when a suicide bomber struck at an Ariana Grande concert on 22 May 2017.

On Wednesday, more than 100 drones will light up the sky over Manchester's Glade of Light memorial.

The display is due to start at 22:19 BST and will end at 22:31 - the time the bomb was detonated.

Mr Roussos said he was keeping the details of the show secret, but added that it would be a fitting tribute to those who died.

He said he "dreaded" the passage of time making the anniversary of the attack become "the norm".

The 22 victims of the Manchester Arena bombing

"It's in danger of becoming just another church service and another minute's silence, which is important, but if you're not careful, you end up only remembering the attack," he said.

"They were at a music gig, they were all vibrant lively people, a light show is more fitting with their personalities.

"It would be lovely to remember them in a positive light, rather than what happened to them."

Mr Roussos said he had worked with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and the region's night-time economy adviser Sacha Lord to plan the event.

He said the show would also be an opportunity for the families to give back to the city that showed them so much support.

"I know Manchester will never forget and... the families will be forever grateful for the city's support and love," he said.

"Our pain is with us every day, it doesn't leave us.

"But on 22 May, we are taken back to that moment."

He said if the city had not reacted the way it did, "we might not feel this way".

"[Manchester] really, really supported us in every way shape and form," he added.

"By remembering [the 22] in this way, we get to give back to the city and it feels like [they] are back among us."