‘There’s been a bomb, I’m safe’ – son’s shock message

Denise Rollo, 42, was asleep when 22-year-old Salman Abedi allegedly detonated a homemade bomb in the foyer of Manchester Arena at around 10.30pm. The attack killed 22 people and left 59 injured.

Denise’s son Jonathan Dervey, 15, a pupil at St Joseph’s School, was among those leaving the venue after a concert by US singer Ariana Grande.

Denise, of Salterbeck, awoke at 6am and heard the alarming telephone message from her son.

She said: “It was awful, sheer panic. You think the worst.

“Jonathan’s dad had dropped them off and it was the first time he was allowed to go to a gig on his own.”

Denise took Jonathan to school the following day and went to see the headteacher before leaving him, but he only managed to stay at school for half a day.

She said: “It got too much for him. He said to me he’s glad he lives in Cumbria and not in a city because these things don’t happen over here. The school and the headteacher, Miss Kennedy, were brilliant.

“I’m supposed to go to a concert in London next week but I don’t know whether to go after what happened.”

Abigail Rayson, 20, of Cockermouth, described the stampede after people heard a loud bang. She had travelled to Manchester to take her cousin Chloe Rundle, 14, to see her first gig.

Abigail said: “When we stood up to get out we heard a massive bang. Everyone started to run, it was a stampede. People were jumping over the chairs and shouting ‘run’.

“I was trying to keep my little cousin calm. I remember hearing screaming.

“We were one of the lucky ones. We just ran back to our hotel.”

The so-called Islamic State said it was behind the suicide bombing.

Eight men and one woman were arrested following the attack, although the woman was released without charge.

Two Keswick School pupils were also caught up in the terror.

Megan Walton, 13, and friend Pola Kozuv, 12, of Whitehaven, had travelled to the concert with Megan’s mum Keri Taylor, who is a supply teacher and also runs KT Tuitions in Workington.

Keri said when they headed to the foyer they could smell burning and were told to evacuate.

She said: “People started running and children started crying.

“We went to the other side of the road. There were people who were lost and others crying. Megan started crying at that point.”

Keri’s husband James collected them on Tuesday night and took them home.

In the wake of the attack, Alastair Quinn, of Aspatria, offered his help to Cumbrians stranded in Manchester. He took to social media to offer to pick up people free of charge through Davies Taxis of Keswick, of which he is a partner.

He said: “I used to be an emergency medical technician in Manchester for four years. My brother and sister-in-law are still there working with the emergency services and they got called out to the arena after the bombing. It feels like it’s happened close to home.”

Alastair picked up a young man from Penrith. He added: “I thought it was the only thing I could do to help.”

Meanwhile, the Workington dance community has paid tribute to victim Chloe Rutherford, 17, of South Shields, who was killed in the attack with boyfriend Liam Curry, 19.

Chloe’s aunt, Caren Rowe, has been a supporter of Workington Musical Festival for many years, taking part with her dance school Lumsdale Theatre Arts.

Margaret McIntyre, festival chairman, said: “We’d like to offer our heartfelt sympathy to Chloe’s family. It’s tragic.

“The dancing community is such a close-knit family.”

Extra security measures will be in place at some Cumbria concerts this summer.

Olly Murs will play at Carlisle’s Brunton Park on Saturday, June 3 and organiser LHG Live said strict security measures will be in place, with all customers thoroughly searched on entry.

In July, Bryan Adams and Little Mix will both perform at Carlisle’s Bitts Park. Promoter LCC Live is “working closely” with agency partners over the security.

Organisers of Ireby Music Festival, taking place today and tomorrow, are urging people to be vigilant and report anything unusual.