A couple have been hailed as ‘absolute heroes’ for helping concertgoers escape the terror attack at the Manchester Arena which left 22 people dead and 64 injured.

Good Samaritans Bradley Edwards and his fiancée Georgina-Ivy Bailey rescued people who had fallen in the frantic panic as thousands tried to flee the bomb blast.

The pair, of Henrietta Street, Leigh, lifted people from the floor on a crowded staircase and freed others who were trapped in curtains that formed the backdrop for the Ariana Grande gig on Monday night.

They led them to safety and even took a panic-stricken stranger home after finding her roaming round lost outside.

The woman, Billie Raynor, had been on a day trip to London and had to get off her coach in Manchester city centre because of a security cordon.

The 27-year-old, from Atherton, said: "They were lifting children up who had fallen on the floor in the arena so they didn't get trampled.

"They were absolute heroes.

"The couple took me under their wing to run out of the city centre even though I was slowing them down by being barefooted.

"They took me to their cousin's car and gave me a lift home."

Prime Minister Theresa May said the suicide bombing was the worst north of England terror attack in history, with the victims including an eight-year-old girl.

Parents-of-two Bradley, 33, and Georgina-Ivy, 29, will never forget the horrors they witnessed.

Graphic designer Bradley said: “Initially I was confused and then heard the screams and panic.

"Some people said someone had been shot and others said it was a bomb.

“I looked up to the direction that the noise came from and could see the crowd coming towards us and smoke from one of the corporate boxes.

“We quickly turned to the stairs where a large amount of people had gathered, pushing and panicking to get out.

“We had to pick quite a few people up and help others that had been caught in the curtains that formed the backdrop to the show.

“Once we were out of the stairs area into the surrounding corridor everyone headed towards the doors and down the stairs.

“It was surreal with people crying, screaming and trying to find loved ones.

“I am certainly not a hero. We did what was natural, helping others who needed help.

"Billie was on her own and seemed stressed so we both took her under our wing and made sure she felt as safe as possible.

"My cousin Alex picked us up and made sure to drop her off on her doorstep.

"Our children – Lucian, five, and Aurora-Ivy, two – were not at the concert. We could not wait to get home and give them a hug last night."

New Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham praised the city's response to the 'evil act' this morning.

The former Leigh MP said: "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.”

The victims to have been named so far are Saffie Roussos, eight, Olivia Campbell, 15, Georgina Callander, 18, John Atkinson, 28, Martyn Hett, 29, Kelly Brewster, 32, Jane Tweddle-Taylor, 50, and Polish couple Angelika and Marcin Klis, who were 40 and 42 respectively.

The injured – including 12 under the age of 16 – are being treated at eight hospitals across Greater Manchester.

Twenty are said to be in a critical condition.

The suicide bomber has been named as 22-year-old Salman Abedi, who was born in Manchester to parents of Libyan descent.

The former University of Salford student detonated an improvised explosive device in the foyer area of the arena at around 10.35pm, killing himself in the blast.

Yesterday Greater Manchester Police arrested a man in south Manchester and searched two properties – one in Whalley Range and one in Fallowfield – in connection with the atrocity.

Three other men have been arrested in south Manchester this morning.

One of the men arrested is Abedi's 23-year-old brother.

Greater Manchester Police chief constable Ian Hopkins said: “Can I start by once again passing on our heartfelt sympathies to all the innocent people caught up in the despicable act.

“We now have a team of specially-trained family liaison officers who are supporting families.

“There has been much speculation and names of those who may have been killed in the media and social media. We accept that this is inevitable, however we ask that people allow the police and coroner to release the names once the families are ready and appropriately supported.

“As you would expect the police response to this across Greater Manchester has been significant as we support people to go about their daily business.

“We understand that feelings are very raw right now and people are bound to be looking for answers.

"However now, more than ever, it is vital that our diverse communities in Greater Manchester stand together and do not tolerate hate.

“We have been visited by the Prime Minster and the home secretary and we have taken them through the emergency response so far and what we plan to do in future days.

“I can confirm that the man suspected of carrying out the atrocity has been named as 22-year-old Salman Abedi.

“The priority remains to establish whether he was acting alone or as part of a network.”

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

Were you at the concert? E mail webdesk@nqnw.co.uk