A MUM-of-two who was inside the Manchester Arena when a bomb exploded can remember the chaos that ensued like it was yesterday.

Mel O’Neill, from Great Sankey, feared a gun had been fired when she first heard the bang while leaving the Ariana Grande concert with daughters Darcey, 11, and Lois, 12, and husband Carl.

The 44-year-old, who runs O'Neills Hair and Beauty, said: "I remember the chaos of it all.

"So many people were panicking."

Mel, who had treated her children to Ariana Grande tickets as a Christmas present, only realised the magnitude of what had happened when she woke up the following morning.

While the family was physically unharmed, her eldest daughter has struggled to come to terms with what happened and, following advice from her school, Mel contacted The Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace.

"It was good for her to get everything off her chest – and they were able to confirm everything that I was saying to her about not shutting down and losing out on life," said Mel, who writes a regular blog on her cancer battle for the Warrington Guardian.

"You shouldn't miss out on the good times. You can't live in fear of what if. You have to enjoy every moment.

"As horrible as it sounds if it happens it happens.

"We were lucky to survive but unlucky to be there on the night.

"You can’t plan when it will happen and you have to make the most of your life and live in the present moment and enjoy every second.

"Will from the foundation kept in touch and he got in contact again just before the anniversary.

"It's reassuring to know that they are there to help."