THE country stopped at 2.30pm on Tuesday to remember those who had their lives stolen on May 22 2017.

A minute’s silence was observed around the UK to remember the 22 people who died in the Manchester Arena attack.

In Bury, a school commemorated the first anniversary of the bombing by releasing 22 balloons to remember each of the victims.

East Ward Community Primary, in Willow Street, decided to hold the event in the school playground after the one minute silence was held to remember the dead.

Headteacher David Waites said: “400 of our pupils stood in a large circle holding hands and we picked 22 pupils to let off the yellow and black balloons at the end of the silence, which also coincided with a spontaneous round of applause to remember those who died.”

Mr Waites added: “Although there was nobody at the school who was directly involved, it did affect the school in that it affected other families we know in Bury.”

Mr Waites said the pupils had been told about the bombing in class before the balloon launch and were given an opportunity to ask questions, one of which included some asking why the bomber had carried out the deadly attack in the first place.

Meanwhile, at St Monica’s RC High School in Prestwich, pupils have been taking part in a week of assemblies to remember the victims of the attack.

Sixteen pupils at the school were present at the Ariana Grande concert that evening while several others had relatives who were injured.

Children from the school designed their own bees in class and took them out to nearby businesses to show their support.

At Fairfield Hospital, more than 100 members of staff took part in a commemoration event at 10.50am.

Craig Carter, the director of finance for Bury and Rochdale Care Organisation, read out the This Is The Place poem, created by Prestwich-poet Tony Walsh, a minute’s silence was observed and Oasis’ Don’t Look Back in Anger was played. The song became an anthem for the city in the weeks after the attack.

A day of commemorations was organised in Manchester to enable people to mark the day including a service at Manchester Cathedral with the Duke of Cambridge and Prime Minister Theresa May. The day culminated in bells ringing at 10.31pm — the exact moment a year ago that the bomb exploded.