STAFF at the Royal Bolton Hospital have been praised for their 'outstanding' work in the face of a terror attack.

Prime Minister Theresa May has written to the hospital praising its response and care it showed to the victims of the Manchester Arena bomb.

In the letter addressed to Bolton NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Jackie Bene, Mrs May said the dedication and "truly outstanding work" showed by staff made "the whole country proud".

She said: "The deliberate targeting of innocent and defenceless children was particularly appalling. Manchester, and the nation as a whole, was subject to something truly terrible that night but we can all take comfort in the fantastic response of our emergency services.

"I know that your hospital cared for victims of the attack and that staff worked incredibly hard to deliver world-class treatment to those tragically caught up in it."

Royal Bolton was one of 11 hospitals which took in people injured by the bomb attack on May 22 at the Ariana Grande concert in the city centre venue.

Put on major incident alert at 11pm that night it took in eight patients by ambulance as well as many more ‘walking wounded’, some of whom were badly injured.

On Monday the hospital's bereavement nurse Laura Prescott was among representative Manchester emergency and medical services to collect The Barclays Women of the Year Award at the Women of the Year Awards in London for their work support the victims.

On the PM's letter, Dr Bene said: "It is good to know that the hard work of Bolton staff has been recognised in this way. Local people can be very proud of them."