SCHOOL friends of a teenager killed in the Manchester Arena bombing gathered in Bury to celebrate her birthday. 

Olivia Campbell-Hardy would have celebrated her 16th birthday today surrounded by friends and family. 

Bury Times: Olivia Campbell-Hardy

Around 20 people, who all knew Olivia, came to Redvales Playing Fields to let off balloons of all kinds to remember their friend and relative. 

Ruth Field, Olivia's Nana, brought a dinosaur balloon explaining, Olivia always told her dinosaurs speak with 'roars' so a dinosaur would roar to say 'I love you'. 

19-year-old Chelsea Hodgson, Olivia's step-sister, organised the balloon release and for her Tottington High School friends to have this chance to celebrate her birthday. 

Before the balloons were released, Miss Hodgson said a few words and remembered Olivia as someone who enjoyed being the centre of attention and they were giving her that chance again. 

Mrs Field said afterwards: "Olivia was so important to us, she loved life and she liked to be with everybody. 

"She was always so happy when she was with her friends. She would have loved this. She loved a gathering when everybody was together."

Arron Lever, a close friend of Olivia's mum Charlotte, said: "She loved being the centre of attention, not in a bad way, she was entertaining."

Mrs Field said if Olivia had been here to celebrate her birthday she probably would have been out somewhere with her friends or having a meal with family. 

Olivia's mum, Charlotte and step-dad Paul Hodgson, married on Saturday and have marked Olivia's 16th birthday while on their honeymoon by letting off 16 blue balloons.