A MOTHER-of-two from Corbridge says she feels lucky to be alive after escaping the Manchester terror attack with her husband and daughter.

Shauna Hardy, her husband Ryan and 11-year-old daughter Rihanna were among the thousands of concert-goers forced to flee Manchester Arena on Monday after it was targeted by a suicide bomber.

“I am so aware of how lucky we are to have made it out of there alive and all together,” explained Shauna, who had surprised Rihanna, a Corbridge Middle School pupil, with platinum tickets for the Ariana Grande concert for Christmas.

Police say bomber Salman Abedi killed 22 people and injured 64 others when he blew himself up in the foyer area.

“Because of the smell, the burning, the dust, the sirens and the blood everywhere, I just knew instantly this wasn’t an accident,” Shauna said.

“I just knew it was a bomb.”

The family were trying to leave the venue via a staircase when they heard the explosion and screaming to the right of them just after 10.30pm.

Shauna said: “It was instantly chaos. People were running towards where we were and Rihanna was inconsolable.

“She just kept asking if we were going to die.”

Once outside, the seriousness of the incident hit home, and the family were ushered away from the arena car park where they had left their car.

“Police cordons were going up and there was just sirens and blue lights everywhere,” Shauna added.

The family sought refuge in the foyer of the nearby Park Inn by Radisson hotel and were kept up-to-date by police.

Shauna said: “There were so many lost and scared people coming in. Everyone was just pulling together as best they could. The hotel and emergency services were amazing.”

After hiring a car, the family eventually made it home to Corbridge on Tuesday night, but Shauna says the horror of the experience remains very raw.

“Ariana is absolutely our daughter’s idol,” said Shauna.

“It was a sell-out show and everyone had been in really high spirits.

“There were lots of families with little girls as young as six and groups of 14 and 15-year-old friends there without parents. What we saw was just absolutely horrific.

“People were trying to help a 13-year-old girl outside who was crawling along the pavement. She was covered with blood.

“I feel so thankful we left our son Theo with his grandma. I just can’t process it. We’re just trying to support Rihanna through it all.”

Following the attack, up to 5,000 soldiers will be deployed on the streets amid fears that the suicide bomber had accomplices preparing further attacks.

For the first time in 10 years, Prime Minister Theresa May said the terror threat had been raised to the highest possible level, from severe to critical, meaning an attack is “expected imminently”.

But, after chairing a meeting of emergency services and local authorities in the North-East, Assistant Chief Constable of Northumbria Police, Darren Best, issued a message of reassurance.

“We know this will quite rightly concern our communities and I would like to offer reassurance that all community safety partners are working together to protect our communities and help keep them safe. There is no place in our communities for terrorists who want to create discord, distrust and create fear.”

A book of condolence has been opened at County Hall in Morpeth by leaders at Northumberland County Council.

Daljit Lally, deputy chief executive, said: “The events in Manchester were truly shocking and I am sure I speak on behalf of everyone in Northumberland in sending our condolences to all those affected by these terrible events.

“We stand together with Manchester, the victims and their families. Terrorism will not win.”