Smiles and song: Images from Albert Squarepublished at 20:06 British Summer Time 22 May 2018
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Smiles and song: Images from Albert Squarepublished at 20:06 British Summer Time 22 May 2018
Image source, Getty ImagesImage source, Getty ImagesImage source, Getty ImagesImage source, Getty ImagesManchester Lesbian and Gay Chorus in full flowpublished at 19:50 British Summer Time 22 May 2018
The Manchester Lesbian and Gay Chorus are the latest to perform, signing a creative mash-up of pop favourites from Oasis, New Order and others.
Cheers erupt as choirs burst into song at Albert Squarepublished at 19:46 British Summer Time 22 May 2018
The singing has begun and things are well under way at Albert Square now, with cheers and applause from the crowds in no short supply.
Ahead of the singing, the Bishop of Manchester, the Right Reverend David Walker, led those assembled in a minute's silence.
He also told the crowd that the 22 candles lit in tribute to the victims at Manchester Cathedral had been made from the remnants of the hundreds left around the city in the aftermath of the attack.
The sing-along will see performances from 80 singing groups, including the Manchester Survivors Choir and the Parrs Wood High School Harmony Group.
The former is made up of people who were caught up the attack last year, while the latter saw their post-attack tribute - a version of Ariana Grande's My Everything - go viral and earn them the chance to perform with the star at the One Love Manchester concert.
LIVE: Albert Square sing-alongpublished at 19:29 British Summer Time 22 May 2018
You can watch a live video stream of the event by clicking here
Image source, Getty ImagesFrom the scene: 'Emotional' night in store but mood is 'upbeat'published at 19:22 British Summer Time 22 May 2018
Kaleigh Watterson
BBC News
Image source, Getty ImagesLast year a vigil was of course held on this same spot in Albert Square, with thousands gathering to honour those who lost their lives and show solidarity in the face of hatred.
The crowds are out in force again - as expected - but this time the atmosphere is much more upbeat.
The evening began with a reading of Tony Walsh's celebrated poem This is the Place, which left many in tears a year ago - but this time it was set to an upbeat dance beat, with the crowd clapping along and cheering followed by a rapturous round of applause.
Tonight will be emotional, there's no doubt about that, but this also feels a celebration of that great Manchester spirit, which shone through as a beacon of light in those dark days last May.
This is the place.
Crowds gather 'to show we won't be beaten'published at 19:12 British Summer Time 22 May 2018
Sisters Gina and Casey Hankey, from Stoke-on-Trent, said they decided to attend having been at Manchester Arena on the night of the attack.
"We did the arena visits, so this is another step. The atmosphere has been good so far, but it's still a bit sad."
Rachel and Mia, from Bolton, said they had come "to show we won't be beaten and show you carry on and remember those who died".
Julie, from Eccles, who came with her son Louis, said they wanted "to pay our respects as it just touched everybody".
From the scene: 'Festival feel' as Albert Square sing-along about to beginpublished at 19:08 British Summer Time 22 May 2018
Kaleigh Watterson
BBC NewsIf today's cathedral memorial service was sombre and pious, it seems we may be in for something of a contrast in the sing-along spectacle getting under way in Albert Square this evening.
There's a bit of a festival feel at the moment with people singing along to music playing on loud speakers, cheering and chatting to friends.
There are plenty of banners on show. Two TV screens surround the three stages and there is plenty of waving whenever the cameras pan around the crowd.
A Mexican wave has just broken out among those in the colourful Manchester together t-shirts who are standing in front of the stages, and they've just started an impromptu sing-song.
Thousands sing for attack victimspublished at 19:01 British Summer Time 22 May 2018
Over 3,500 singers are coming together to lead a chorus of amateur voices in a mass sing-along to remember the Manchester Arena attack victims.
Image source, Getty ImagesTwenty-two people died and hundreds injured when a bomb was detonated outside a concert on 22 May 2017.
Manchester Together in Albert Square will feature songs by Elbow and Oasis.
It follows a memorial service at Manchester Cathedral, which saw Prince William join political leaders and the families of the victims to remember.
Song sheets available for Albert Square singalongpublished at 19:01 British Summer Time 22 May 2018
Those attending the sing-along event in Manchester's Albert Square can download the lyrics for the four songs planned for the event., external
Image source, Getty ImagesLarge crowds are expected to gather from 19:00 BST for a rendition of four songs:
- Oasis: Don't Look Back In Anger
- Elbow: One Day Like This
- Ariana Grande: One Last Time
- Take That: Never Forget
There will also be readings from The Bishop of Manchester, the Lord Mayor and poet Lemn Sissay, and a second minute's silence at 19:19.
Bells will toll to mark moment of explosionpublished at 18:57 British Summer Time 22 May 2018
Bells across Manchester city centre will ring out to mark the moment of the explosion in tribute to the 22 victims of the bomb.
Bells at Manchester Town Hall, St Ann's Church and St Mary's Roman Catholic Church will sound at 22:31 BST.
Football clubs among sporting tributes to Manchester attack victimspublished at 18:36 British Summer Time 22 May 2018
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End of twitter post 3‘I quit my job and became an actor after surviving Manchester Arena attack’published at 18:18 British Summer Time 22 May 2018
Jamie Cousins and his 10-year-old daughter Poppy were at the Manchester Arena on the night of last year’s terror attack.
They left the foyer seconds before the explosion, after exiting the gig during the final song.
Jamie describes the scenes after the blast as “like a horror film”, as he and Poppy made their way out of the concert venue.
In the weeks and months that followed, Jamie came to the realisation that ‘life’s too short’, and quit the job he’d been doing for 16 years to take up his lifelong passion - acting.
He’s since landed a leading role in an independent feature film called Out Of Time.
Jamie says the film “gave him something to focus on and gave him a distraction” following the tragedy which killed 22 people and injured more than 500 others.
Queues forming ahead of Albert Square eventpublished at 18:06 British Summer Time 22 May 2018
Kaleigh Watterson
BBC NewsIt's tight security around Manchester's Albert Square this evening with the surrounding roads closed and bag searches compulsory before anyone is allowed near the square itself.
Queues are already building before the event is due to get under way at 19:00 BST.
Crowds expected for Albert Square sing-alongpublished at 17:50 British Summer Time 22 May 2018
With the cathedral service now over thoughts are turning to the sing-along event at Albert Square, which is due to begin at 19:00 BST.
Image source, Getty ImagesThere will be music from stars such as Oasis and Ariana Grande, and readings from speakers including the Bishop of Manchester, the city's Lord Mayor and poet Lemn Sissay.
Tears and tributes: Images from a day of remembrancepublished at 17:34 British Summer Time 22 May 2018
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Image source, Leon Neal / Getty imagesManchester attack anniversary: ‘We miss Olivia every day’published at 17:16 British Summer Time 22 May 2018
BBC Radio 5 liveFifteen-year-old Olivia Campbell-Hardy was one of the 22 people who were killed in the Manchester Arena attack a year ago today.
On the first anniversary, her grandfather Steve Goodman says “there’s still a lot of raw grief” and that the family are “taking small steps”.
Steve says Olivia “loved life” and had dreamt of becoming a music or dance teacher.
He has since helped start a charity in her honour called ‘Liv’s Trust’, which aims to inspire and support those involved in music, drama and dance.
Steve says when he’s not thinking about the charity then his “head is all over the place”.
“I’d have probably been in bits or in prison by now if I had nothing to focus on.”
'Mummy, mummy - there's been a bomb'published at 17:05 British Summer Time 22 May 2018
Louise McGovern was on the way to the Manchester Arena to collect her daughter Ella, when the 14-year-old rang her in tears.
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, A man comforts two women after the bomb
"Mummy, mummy please - there's been a bomb."
Ella had suffered shrapnel wounds to her legs in the blast and was calling her mother for help.
Louise said: "I just went into mum mode and just stopped everything and got to her as quickly as possible."
Said Ella: "I realised how bad it was when I got out of the foyer and I saw the look on people's faces."
Who were the 22 victims of the Manchester bomb?published at 16:59 British Summer Time 22 May 2018
Media caption, Manchester Arena bomb victims remembered
Manchester attack anniversary: Trees and beespublished at 16:50 British Summer Time 22 May 2018
People have been tying message to maple trees and leaving pebbles decorated with bees across Manchester.
It's part of the "Trees of Hope" trail where people are asked to write tributes and messages of love and support to victims on the anniversary of the Manchester Arena attack.
Cathedral service observes minute's silence in memory of victimspublished at 16:38 British Summer Time 22 May 2018
This was the moment Manchester and much of the nation stood together in silent tribute to those who died.
The minute's silence was observed at Manchester Cathedral as well as other parts of the city including Albert Square, and at government buildings around the country.