Stewart Whittingham
Reporter, BBC News Online

Hundreds of people have gathered outside Manchester Cathedral to pay their respects to those killed or injured in the bombing. A memorial service has just started.

Inflatable bees and white T-shirts decorated with a bee and with the number 22 were out in force.

A giant TV screen has been erected outside the church with volunteers handing out orders of service entitled 'remembering together' along with water.

Rhiannon Graves, 17, from Hull had been at the concert when the bomb went off.

She said: "I had to be here to show love and solidarity.

"I had just left the concert arena when it went off. I'll never forget it."

Her friend Lois Beaumont, 18, said: "I think about it every day.

"I wanted to come to show my respects for those who didn't make it or who were injured."

Thousands of people are gathering in Manchester city centre to remember the victims of last year's attack at Manchester Arena. Our reporter Jack Ranson is down among the crowds

An athlete is running 63 miles across Greater Manchester to raise money for the North West Air Ambulance.

Image source, Nathan Rae

Nathan Rae is expected to take 16 hours to complete the route and plans to pay his respects outside Manchester Arena at 22:31, the exact time the bomb exploded a year ago

The course, which passes by Manchester Royal Infirmary, Salford Royal Hospital, Manchester United's Old Trafford and Manchester City's Etihad Stadium, traces the shape of a heart with the outline ‘MCR’ written within it.

The Coronation Street team have tweeted a painting - featured behind the memorial bench on its set - to mark the first anniversary of the Manchester Arena attack.

The bench, unveiled earlier this year, is dedicated to Corrie superfan Martyn Hett and the other 21 victims of the attack.

It is located in a urban garden on the Manchester soap's set.

Image source, ITV

Mr Hett's partner Russell Hayward said at the unveiling: "It's so wonderful what the Corrie family have done.

"The bench is extraordinary - it's beautiful - and I think he would be beside himself."

It also features a plaque which says: "For Martyn and all those who lost their lives on the 22nd May 2017. We stand together."

The North West Ambulance Service has written an open letter to the city of Manchester, reflecting on last year's terror attack which killed 22 people.

More than 300 NWAS staff from across the North West of England were directly involved in the emergency response to the bomb at Manchester Arena.

In the letter, NWAS states: "By standing together, we can overcome the darkest days and show those few who want to disrupt our lives, that our spirit is strong."

Read the full letter, external

A group of survivors from the Manchester Arena bombing have formed a choir to help them cope with the trauma of the night.

They will be performing in Manchester city centre as part of the commemorations and for many, it will be the first time they have returned to the city since the attack.

A "Trees of Hope" trail is allowing people to write tributes and messages of love and support to victims on the anniversary of the Manchester Arena attack.

Messages on specially designed tags can be attached to 28 Japanese maple trees from Manchester Victoria station to St Ann's Square until 27 May.

BBC Radio 5 live

In the days and weeks after the Manchester arena attack, people in the region came together to support each other.

Here, members of the community talk to BBC Radio 5 live about how it's affected their lives.

The second paramedic to arrive on the scene of the attack on 22 May last year has recalled some of the "amazing acts" by members of the public.

Image source, PA

Dan Smith said: “There were some amazing acts by normal members of the public doing extraordinary things.”

The paramedic told of one lady who sat with an injured victim “holding her hand and comforting her.”

“She did what decent human people do as” as all around her emergency services were “dealing with something so devastating and so disgusting in terms of another human doing that to us”.

“To see that humanity and love and care was amazing”.

A number of events are taking place across Manchester today to mark the first anniversary of the Manchester Arena terror attack.

Image source, Google

This following road closures and diversions are in place:

Monday 21 May to Wednesday 23 May

• St Ann Street - Police Street to Cross Street from 12:00 on 21 May to 06:00 on 23 May

Tuesday 22 May

• Victoria Street (outside Manchester Cathedral) from 07:00 - 08:00
• Cateaton Street from 11:30 to 18:00
• Deansgate - Blackfriars to Victoria Bridge Street from 11:30 to 18:00
• Victoria Bridge Street from 11:30am to 18:00
• Mount Street - Peter Street to Albert Square from 15:00 - 23:00
• Bootle Street - Mount Street to Marron Place from 15:00 - 23:00
• Southmil Street - Peter Street to Jacksons Row from 15:00 - 23:00
• Jacksons Row from 15:00 - 23:00
• Lloyd St from Deansgate to Albert Square from 15:00 - 23:00
• Tasle Alley from 15:00 - 23:00
• Clarence Street - Kennedy Street to Princess Street (Kennedy Street reverse traffic direction out via Cooper St) from 15:00 - 23:00
• Princess Street - Cross Street to George Street from 15:00 - 23:00
• Cooper Street(no access from Booth Street junction) from 15:00 - 23:00
• John Dalton from Deansgate to Albert Square from 17:00 - 23:00
• Cross Street - King Street to Albert Square from 17:00 - 23:00
• Tib Lane - Essex Street to Cross Street from 17:00 - 23:00

More from Manchester City Council, external

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has tweeted his support for "all affected" on the first anniversary first anniversary of the Manchester Arena terror attack.

Special events will take place across Manchester today to remember the 22 people who were killed and hundreds injured in the Manchester Arena terror attack on 22 May last year.

Image source, Various

Events include a service at Manchester Cathedral at 14:00 BST and a sing-along vigil.

There will also be a national minute's silence at 14:30.

The Manchester Together With One Voice event takes place between 19:00 and 21:00 and will bring together choirs from the city and beyond.

The final half hour will be a sing-along broadcast live on BBC Radio Manchester.

BBC Radio 5 live

The grandfather of the Manchester Arena attack victim Olivia Campbell-Hardy has spoken to 5 live about the Manchester bee.

The bee became a symbol of solidarity after the attack on 22 May, 2017.

Steve Goodman said: "The unity, the coming together of the people... [the bee] is the Manchester symbol now."

22 people died in the explosion at an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena.

A special event to remember the 22 people who dies in the Manchester Arena terror attack starts today in St Ann's Square.

Image source, Reuters

There is a Light, will run between Tuesday and Saturday with song lyrics projected on to St Ann's Church and other parts of the square in Manchester city centre..

St Ann's Square became a focal point for tributes in the wake of the bombing, with many thousands of wreaths left by well-wishers.

Some of the flowers were later composted and the soil used for the Trees of Hope Trail, where trees were planted around the city centre.

Members of the public can write messages on special tags to be attached to the Japanese maple trees until Tuesday evening.

Manchester United and Manchester City have tweeted tributes to the 22 people who were killed in the Manchester Arena attack on 22 May last year.

Man City tweeted the Manchester Bee image with the message "This City Remembers".

Man United changed its profile picture to the bee and tweeted an animation with the words "Always Remember. Never Forget. Forever Manchester".

The bee represent the city's hard working past and was shared on social media following the terror attack last year.

A special service will take place at Manchester Cathedral today to mark the first anniversary of the Manchester Arena terror attack.

Image source, Various

Prime Minister Theresa May and Prince William will join families of victims and emergency workers who went to their aid in the service which starts at 14:00.

The service is by invitation only but people will be able to watch the service on a big screen in the nearby cathedral gardens, and further afield at York Minster, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral and Glasgow Cathedral.

Ariana Grande has tweeted "thinking of you all" ahead of a day of remembrance to mark the first anniversary of the Manchester Arena attack.

Twenty-two people were killed and hundreds injured when a bomb was detonated at the end of one of her concerts on 22 May 2017.

Image source, PA

A cathedral service, a minute's silence and a sing-along vigil will mark the first anniversary of the Manchester Arena attack.

Image source, AFP

Twenty-two people were killed and hundreds injured when Salman Abedi detonated a bomb at the end of an Ariana Grande concert on 22 May 2017.

The singer tweeted on Tuesday morning to say she was "thinking of you all today and every day".

The national minute's silence will start at 14:30.