THE mayor of Greater Manchester has condemned the ‘evil act’ which saw a suicide bomber kill 22 people at a pop concert last night.

Former Leigh MP Andy Burnham says the suspected terrorist attack is 'hard to believe'.

Children have been confirmed as being among the dead and 59 people have been taken to eight hospitals across the city.

Greater Manchester Police say a man detonated an improvised explosive device at the Ariana Grande at the Manchester Arena at 10.35pm.

He is among those to have died in the blast.

Officers have also arrested a 23-year-old man in South Manchester in connection with the suicide bombing.

A man has been arrested at the Arndale shopping centre as well but GMP says this is not currently believed to be connected to last night’s terror attack.

Police have also executed warrants, one in Whalley Range and one in Fallowfield, where a controlled explosion has taken place, as part of their investigation.

Speaking outside Manchester Town Hall this morning, Mr Burnham said: “This was an evil act.

"It is hard to believe what has happened here in the last few hours and to put into words the shock, anger and hurt that we feel today.

“These were children, young people and their families that those responsible chose to terrorise and kill.

“Our first thoughts are with the families of those killed and injured, and we will do whatever we can to support them.

“We are grieving today but we are strong.

“Today it will be business as usual as far as possible in our great city."

The flag is at half mast at Leigh Town Hall and more than 400 police officers are dealing with the aftermath of what is the biggest terror attack in the city's history.

A large cordon has been set up around the venue and Manchester Victoria station, which train operator Northern says is likely to be closed until at least tomorrow.

Other services are running from Manchester.

Mr Burnham added: “I want to thank the hundreds of police, fire and ambulance staff who worked throughout the night in the most difficult circumstances imaginable.

“We have had messages of support from cities around the country and across the world and we want to thank them for that.

“But lastly I want to thank the people of Manchester.

“Even in the minute after the attack, they opened their doors to strangers and drove them away from danger.

“They gave the best possible immediate response to those who seek to divide us and it will be that spirit of Manchester that will prevail and hold us together.”

Billie Raynor, who was passing by the arena at the time of the blast on a day trip from London, has posted on Atherton Residents Association's Facebook page: "A couple from Leigh who had been to the arena saw me alone, panicking and lost.

"They took me under their wing to run out of the city centre, even though I was slowing them down by being barefooted, to their cousin's car on a retail park near MediaCity to give me a lift home.

"They were lifting children that had fallen up off the floor in the arena so they didn't get trampled. Absolute heroes.

"Also if anyone knows the duty managers of the Mercure Hotel in Manchester, they were superstars in letting me in to gather my thoughts and offering a place to stay and giving me hugs and water when I insisted on leaving to find my way home."

GMP chief constable Ian Hopkins said: “This has been the most horrific incident we have had to face in Greater Manchester and one that we all hoped we would never see.

“Families and many young people were out to enjoy a concert at the Manchester Arena and have lost their lives.

"Our thoughts are with those 22 victims that we now know have died, the 59 people who have been injured and their loved ones.

"We continue to do all we can to support them. They are being treated at eight hospitals across Greater Manchester.

“This is a fast-moving investigation and we have significant resources deployed to both the investigation and the visible patrols that people will see across Greater Manchester.

"This will include armed officers as people would expect.

"More than 400 officers were involved in this operation during the night."

Those at the concert were told to run from the area by armed police after leaving the city centre arena.

Witnesses reported hearing loud bangs and what sounded like gunshots just after the entertainment had finished.

Armed police swamped the streets around the arena and police moved members of the public away from the area.

Suzy Mitchell, 26, whose flat is opposite the venue, reported a huge bang rocking the neighbourhood.

She told the Press Association: "(I) just heard a huge bang from my bed, came out to the front of my apartments (we're on the top floor so have a perfect view) and everyone was running away in big crowds.

"The bang was so big I heard it from my room, which is at the back of the apartment blocks."

One fan at the concert described how the explosion hit the venue as fans were leaving the building.

Dawn Price was at the concert with her daughter and their friends.

She said: "I'm really shaken and can't process what happened as so many people were there with children.

"There was a big bang just as it finished and everyone started to run back into the arena.

"Then seconds later people started to run back in from another exit."

Majid Khan, 22, said: "My sister and I, along with a lot of others, were seeing Ariana Grande perform at Manchester Arena and we were all exiting the venue when around 10.40pm to 10.45pm a huge bomb-like bang went off that hugely panicked everyone and we were all trying to flee the arena.

"It was one bang and essentially everyone from the other side of the arena where the bang was heard from suddenly came running towards us as they were trying to exit Trinity Way.

"That was blocked so everyone was just running to any exit they could find as quickly as they could.

"Everyone was in a huge state of panic, calling each other as some had gone to the toilet while this had gone off, so it was just extremely disturbing for everyone there."

Witnesses reported helicopters were circling above the scene after reports of the blast.

Atherton Parish Church at Market Place will be open between 5pm and 7pm for anyone affected by the atrocity.

A candle will be lit for those who have died and all residents are invited to attend.

Police are appealing to anyone who was in Manchester city centre between 8pm and 11pm last night and has dash-cam footage to send it as a matter of urgency to them via ukpoliceimageappeal.co.uk.

For information about casualties call police on 0800 0960095.

If you were at the concert last night call us on 01925 596421 or e-mail newsdesk@leighjournal.co.uk.