Five years on from the worst news imaginable, the families of the four North East people to be killed in the Manchester Arena bombing held events remembering their loved ones.
Emotional ceremonies in have been held in South Shields - for Liam Curry, 19, and Chloe Rutherford, 17 - and in Gateshead for Philip Tron, who died along with his partner's daughter Courtney Boyle. Further events were scheduled in Manchester itself too, half a decade after, on May 22 2017, 22 people died following terrorism at the end of an Ariana Grande concert in the city.
Speaking in South Shields, Mark Rutherford paid tribute to his "baby daughter" Chloe and her "handsome Prince of a boyfriend Liam". Mark also thanked the South Shields community for the way it has supported both families since the atrocity - and highlighted how the area had taken the Chloe and Liam Together Forever charitable trust to its heart, too.
Read more: The 22 innocent victims killed in the Manchester Arena bombing five years ago
He said: "On behalf of both families I would like to thank you all for you love and support over the last five years - both to us personally and to the Chloe and Liam Together Forever Trust.. We would like to thank the whole community for the way you have come together and showed nothing but respect to Chloe and Liam's memorial bench and how everyone has got behind Peek a Boo day. to help us create a lasting legacy for them both."
Chloe and Liam were a young couple attending the concert together. Philip was, with Courtney, collecting her younger sister who had been at the tragic gig.
Thanking the local council, Mark also added: "Today my thoughts are with everyone caught up in the atrocity on May 22 2017 who has struggled both physically and mentally and also to our fellow families who lost loved ones that night." Mark then read the names of each of the people to have been killed five years ago.
In Gateshead, Luke David Martin led a memorial for his uncle - "bonnie lad" Philip Tron. Luke, who was close to his uncle, said: "Today is without question a difficult day. A day we shouldn't have to do, for an atrocity that shouldn't have happened.
"Even though today will be filled with tears and emotional memories, it should also be filled with happiness, laughter and remembrance. as we all come together for a man who brought joy to this earth for 32 years. And it goes without question that he'll be looking down on you all telling you not to get upset, but to celebrate in your own ways, or in Phil's case, probably by having a pint and a night out by the end of it."
Luke, 20, shared memories including of holidays and of his 15th birthday with Philip, just a week before he died. He said Philip was "family-orientated" and had an "infectious laugh". Reading the names of each of the 22 victims of the bombing, he said: "Mothers fathers, brothers, sisters, partners, uncles and cousins, grandchildren, friends and family were taken away from their families that evening. We will also remember all those who helped that atrocious night."
Philip's brother Andrew Tron added: "It never changes. I still miss him. He's still not here and that's not changing."
Luke also had a message for the "monsters" - Salman and Hashem Abedi - responsible for the terrorist attack. He said it was important they knew that "you haven't won". He added: "If anything you have lost. The monsters who carry out events like the Manchester terror attack haven't won. They never win. Because, by the strength of our community - and the world coming together as has been shown - we have become a stronger unit."
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