Funeral for 8-year-old Manchester bombing victim Saffie Roussos held in home city

The funeral for Saffie-Rose Roussos has taken place in her home city of Manchester.

Eight-year-old Saffie was the youngest victim of the terror attack that targeted an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena on 22 May.

She died from multiple injuries, along with 21 others, seven of them aged under 18.

Her mother, Lisa Roussos, 48, who was gravely injured herself, left hospital on Wednesday to say goodbye to her daughter.

Saffie’s wicker casket, adorned with roses, arrived in a silver hearse at Manchester Cathedral followed by the funeral cortege from Wythenshawe Hospital, where Mrs Roussos is still receiving treatment for her injuries.

She emerged from the lead car, refusing the offer of a wheelchair, instead walking into the cathedral for her daughter’s service, watched by dozens of well-wishers standing outside.

Saffie’s father, Andrew, 43, attended with Saffie’s brother, Xander, 10.

Along with five others, Mr Roussos was a pall bearer for his daughter as her coffin was carried inside for the start of the service, just a few hundred yards from the scene of her death.

Hundreds of mourners were already inside, many carrying a single rose in memory of Saffie, a request from the family who invited anyone who had been touched by her to come to celebrate her short life.

A moving montage of photos, set to the music of Grande’s hit One Last Time, forming part of the funeral ceremony, was released by her family and friends.

The YouTube video clip shows a series of family snaps, Saffie happily playing with her brother Xander, smiling alongside her parents on family holidays, wearing make-up and dressing up.

Saffie’s friends hope the video, which will be shown at her funeral, will be liked and shared using the hashtag #Saffiethesuperstar to fulfil her dream of becoming a YouTube star.