A SCHOOLGIRL is in hospital awaiting surgery after being caught up in the terrorist attack in Manchester last night.

Laura Anderson, of Newton Aycliffe, is in Bolton Royal Infirmary waiting to have shrapnel surgically removed from her leg and shoulder.

The 15-year-old, who attends Woodham Academy, travelled to the Ariana Grande concert yesterday with her best friend and best friend’s parents, who were waiting for the teenagers outside when they heard the explosion.

Gary Anderson, Laura's father, said she is 'shaken up but ok’.

Mr Anderson was waiting up for Laura to return home after the gig when he received a phone call from Laura’s friend’s mother asking if he had heard the news.

“She called just after 11pm and asked if we had heard about the explosion,” he said.

“I managed to get hold of Laura at 11.30pm and she said she was ok but she had glass in her shoulder, she didn’t tell me how bad it was because she didn’t want us to worry.

“She has fragments of metal in her leg and one in her shoulder, we are with her in hospital now waiting for her to have an operation.

“She is shaken up, we all are, but she’s ok. You know these things happen but you don’t expect it to happen so close to home.”