Manchester Arena blast: Confusion and chaos after explosion at concert

People have described the "sheer panic" of the Manchester Arena blast that left 19 dead, more than 50 injured and survivors fleeing for their lives.

Shortly after 22:35 BST, the streets of the city centre were suddenly lit up in blue flashing lights, and helicopters buzzed overhead.

It was obvious from the beginning that this was incredibly serious.

Closer to the arena, dozens of people could be seen streaming away in confusion, unsure what they were running from.

Once at a safe distance, some stopped to sit and rest, many of them in tears, and to telephone relatives.

Manchester Arena blast: 19 dead and more than 50 hurt

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'Some of the people looked dead'

One mother who attended the concert by US singer Ariana Grande told the BBC her priority was simply getting her daughters home.

Other people were more candid, and spoke of seeing people left "covered in blood", as they desperately tried to flee a scene of "chaos".

Those attending the concert left the area as quickly as they could

A huge police presence could be seen across the city

Coats and mobile phones were reportedly left strewn on the arena floor as people dumped their possessions and ran.

Paramedics were quickly at the scene, treating the injured.

College student Sebastian Diaz, 19, travelled to the concert from Newcastle.

"Ariana Grande had just finished her last song and there was a huge bang," he said. "I just saw running and it was just instinct to run with them.

"We actually ended up in a corridor and it was a dead end. It was terrifying.

"I found the main doors and people were crying everywhere. Back at the hotel people were crying and on their phones."

Calvin Welsford, 18, travelled to the concert from Bristol, and described initially running down a corridor and also hitting a dead end.

Ambulances transferred the many casualties to hospital

He said: "I was in the front row and it seemed to happen at the very back of the arena.

"It almost sounded like a gunshot. That's how I would describe it. It was very loud.

"I looked around and people were just spilling down, heading out of the building.

"It was sheer panic. Security told us we needed to leave but they were very caring. People were crying."

Police officers urged people to stay calm and move away from the cordons

A wide area around the venue was quickly cordoned off, and the crime scene later appeared to widen with police pushing people further and further back.

Police officers cut a calm and reassuring tone, and urged people to move away.

One thing that has been apparent is the many young people who had attended the event, some of them with parents or guardians.

There was a huge sense of confusion with dozens of people seen searching for information on their phones.

Some shops and takeaways in the busy city centre area around the Arena appeared to be handing out drinks, while taxis swarmed to the area to help take people away.