Manchester attack vigil ends with grieving crowd singing 'Don't Look Back in Anger'

A sombre silence in memory of the Manchester bomb victims came to a rousing end with a spontaneous rendition of Don't Look Back In Anger.

The Oasis hit rang out across Manchester's St Ann's Square after hundreds of people gathered to pay their respects.

The tribute was one of many nationwide events taking place at 11am to mark Monday night's tragedy.

It started with one woman singing the Manchester band's song, prompting others to join in the chorus.

Crowds gathered at well-known sites in the UK, including London's Parliament and Trafalgar Squares, and across many police headquarters.

Hundreds of people gathered outside Greater Manchester Police headquarters for the minute of silence, with crowds pouring out of nearby buildings to join the officers.

Police officers stationed at suicide bomber Salman Abedi's last known address paused their duties to observe the minute's silence.

Uniformed officers guarding the cordon still in place in Elsmore Road, Fallowfield, removed their caps and helmets at 11am and stood facing away from the property.

Their colleagues in forensic examination suits came out of the semi-detached property to join them in the sweltering sunshine.

Other police forces across the country joined in the act of remembrance - flying flags at half-mast, and gathering outside headquarters in a show of solidarity.

Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Ian Hopkins asked those gathered to spend a minute “reflecting” on the events of Monday night.

“Particularly remembering the families of those 22 victims who perished in that terrorist atrocity that we saw here in our great city.

“I'd like you to also think about those that still lie in our hospitals, some very critically injured. Think of them and their families,” he said.

Outside the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, where medics fought through the night to save victims, staff stood together for a moment's silence before breaking into spontaneous applause.

Inside, doctors and nurses paused their duties and stood on balconies overlooking the main reception.

The Queen arrived at the scene minutes later to visit those injured in the attack.

Other acts of remembrance across the UK included court proceedings being paused with judges, jurors, lawyers and defendants standing in silence as a mark of respect.

Council workers gathered on the steps of South Shields Town Hall for the minute's silence.

Dozens of them joined local people out shopping for the tribute to the dead, including teenagers Liam Curry and his girlfriend Chloe Rutherford.

At the end of the silence, Mayor Olive Punchion carried a large floral tribute and placed it alongside others left by locals in front of the town hall.

One note read: “We never met. Our loss.”

PA