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Design for Manchester arena attack memorial revealed

Manchester City Council Memorial plansManchester City Council
The memorial will be located between Manchester Cathedral and Chetham's School of Music

A permanent memorial to the 22 victims of the Manchester Arena bombing will be a garden space, the council has announced.

The plans involve a stone 'halo' centrepiece bearing the names of the victims, after input from families.

It forms part of a scheme by the city council to improve the Medieval Quarter, near Manchester Cathedral.

Council leader Sir Richard Leese said the garden would be a "tranquil space" used all year round.

The council also asked people to stay at home to pay tribute, ahead of the third anniversary of the attack on 22 May.

Prayers and readings will be live streamed through Manchester Cathedral's Facebook page.

Manchester City Council Memorial plansManchester City Council
Plans include a stone centrepiece, bearing the 22 names of lives lost in the attack

Leader of Manchester City Council Sir Richard Leese said: "Manchester will never forget the terrible events of 22 May 2017.

"We will be thinking of them on 22 May and importantly plans for a permanent memorial, a tranquil space for contemplation which can be used year-round, are progressing well."

On previous anniversaries, bells have been rung at St Ann's Church, Manchester Town Hall and St Mary's Roman Catholic Church at precisely 22:31 BST on 22 May to mark the exact moment of the 2017 explosion.

Because of lockdown restrictions, BBC Radio Manchester will be playing a recording of the cathedral bells striking 22 times on Friday evening in remembrance of the 22 people who lost their lives.