A VOLUNTEER who was deployed with the British Red Cross during the Manchester Arena attack has spoken about the ‘phenomenal’ community spirit which helped her through the tragic times.

Julia Reason, from Dallam, has volunteered as an emergency responder for the British Red Cross for eight years but said nothing compared to what she witnessed in the days after the bombing.

The 51-year-old works as a service co-ordinator at Warrington Hospital but volunteers with a camper van based at Birchwood Fire Station.

She said: “The van is usually sent to floods and house fires to provide emergency support such as food, drink and temporary shelter.”

On the night of the Ariana Grande concert, Julia was on a call for the Red Cross team and was about to go to bed when she heard the news breaking.

Julia said: “I was on standby all night because we have to wait to be deployed, it put me in a really difficult position because all I wanted to do was go and help.”

Early next morning, Julia was sent to The Royal Oldham Hospital with the van so that staff could access some respite and head space from the chaos.

The grandmother-of-five said she was ‘staggered’ by the number of residents arriving at the hospital with food and drink for everyone.

A couple of days after the blast, Julia discovered that a school friend was among the victims.

She said: “It hit me really hard to think I was on the other side of the building helping out while she was inside.”

In the following days, Julia was sent to St Anne’s Square in Manchester where the iconic sea of flowers began to bloom.

In eight-hour shifts, Julia and her team provided emotional support to those paying their respects.

“It was a very emotional place to be, it was so quiet.

“We are used to dealing with people in crises but the scale of this was phenomenal, it was quite difficult as a volunteer as you are just looking out waiting for people to crumble and then you can offer help,” She added.

Julia, a mother of two and stepmother of two, found the messages left in St Ann’s Square too difficult to read and often walked around with a box of tissues for others to reach for.

But Julia didn’t stop there – she attended the One Love Manchester benefit concert organised by Ariana Grande with a collection bucket.

She said: “I can’t even describe what it was like at the event, it went from one extreme to the other with people experiencing massive highs and then having panic attacks – there was such a contrast in the crowd.”

Julia described how many found it difficult to walk out of the gates with crowds of people around and the Red Cross team stood by to take people to one side who appeared overwhelmed.

“It is such a privilege to be a volunteer with The British Red Cross, liaising with the emergency services and helping the public in emergencies,” Julie explained.

Her volunteering efforts continued when less than a month later, Julie went down to the scene at Grenfell Tower for three days.

She worked with an NHS mental health nurse visiting the surrounding residential blocks to offer support to those affected.

Julia said: “What got me through these two tragic times was the humanity that came out from the public who turned such negatives into positives.”

Despite her unsung efforts, Julia remains modest when reflecting on her volunteering, she said: “I’m just an ordinary granny who drives a motorbike.

"Anyone can become a volunteer and we’re always looking for more people to join us.”

Julie will continue to volunteer during the events scheduled to mark the one-year anniversary in Manchester.