UK

Mother's desperate search for Olivia, 15, after Manchester terror attack

 Charlotte Campbell last heard from 15-year-old Olivia shortly before Ariana Grande came on stage at on Monday night.
 Charlotte Campbell last heard from 15-year-old Olivia shortly before Ariana Grande came on stage at on Monday night.  Charlotte Campbell last heard from 15-year-old Olivia shortly before Ariana Grande came on stage at on Monday night.

A desperate mother has spoken of her frantic efforts to find her teenage daughter, who has not been in touch since the Manchester Arena terror attack.

Charlotte Campbell last heard from 15-year-old Olivia shortly before Ariana Grande came on stage at on Monday night.

Ms Campbell, who lives in Manchester, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I last had contact with her at half past eight last night. She was at the concert, she'd just seen the support act and said she was having an amazing time and thanking me for letting her go.

"She was with her friend Adam - Adam was found about half an hour ago, he's in hospital but Olivia has not been found yet."

Ms Campbell said she had been at home "phoning everybody - hospitals, police, all these centres that the children have been put in".

"Her dad is actually in Manchester looking for her. I've got friends out looking for her, I've got people I don't even know out looking for her.

"I've got people messaging me saying 'Look, we've got her photo and we're out looking for her - we'll get in contact with you if we see her'.

"I'm just hearing nothing - her phone's dead."

She posted a picture of her daughter on Facebook saying "please share my daughter is still missing with no news on her".

Ms Campbell said social media had been "wonderful" and thanked those who were helping with the search.

Another of those missing is eight-year-old Saffie Rose Roussos.

She was at the concert with her mother Lisa Roussos and Saffie's sister, Ashlee Bromwich, aged in her 20s, from Leyland, Lancashire, who are both now in separate hospitals being treated for injuries, friends said.

But none have been able to trace the whereabouts of Saffie despite calling the police crisis phone number and local hotels and mustering points for the injured.

They have posted an appeal on Facebook in a desperate bid to trace her.

Kate Tinsley, whose daughter Jessica is best friends with Saffie at Tarleton Community Primary School near Preston in Lancashire, said: "I've tried to contact Saffie's mum and none of the message have gone through on the phone.

"Jessica has gone to school today not knowing a thing. My daughter is best friends with her in school. Everybody is worried, the whole village. Everybody is in bits waiting for news, just some news that she's okay, she's alive."

Hundreds of people are desperately searching for loved ones in the aftermath of the terror attack which left 22 dead and at least 59 injured.

Parents, relatives and friends are frantically trying to contact people still missing after the explosion, flooding social media with images as they try to track them down.

A number of people have taken to social media to try to find missing mother Wendy Fawell.

Tweets said Ms Fawell, believed to be from Otley, West Yorkshire, was last seen in the foyer area of the arena shortly before the explosion.

Leeds Underdogs ARL rugby club tweeted: "Friends of ours are looking for a Wendy Fawell-New, if anyone know if she is safe, please get back to us."

Debbie Mcdowell posted a photograph of Ms Fawell on Facebook with the message: "Please share this picture of my best friend Wendy Fawell who is missing after the bombing in Manchester. Praying for safe return my lovely. Love you loads xx"

Appeals were also made for the whereabouts of Kelly Brewster, from Sheffield.

Chantelle Garrity posted on Facebook: "Pls pls pls help find my friend Kelly Brewster. She is missing following the explosion at Manchester Arena last night! If any one has seen her please let me know! Her family and friends are worried."

It is believed she went to the concert with her sister Claire and niece Hollie, who were injured and are being treated in hospital.

Thousands of teenagers were inside the arena for a concert by Ariana Grande on Monday night, and Greater Manchester Police chief constable Ian Hopkins has confirmed children are among those killed.

Facebook has activated its safety check feature so people can let loved ones know they are safe, and an emergency helpline, 0161 856 9400, has been set up for those searching for loved ones.

Two hotels near the arena, the Holiday Inn and Premier Inn, both took in stranded children in the immediate aftermath and looked after them overnight.