THE North-East has rallied round to help victims and their families of the Manchester terror attack.

The head of a North-East children's charity has vowed to support youngsters injured in by donating all the money from his latest fundraiser to two hospitals treating them.

Chris Read, of the A Smile for a Child charity - which raises funds to help disabled children get into sport - will be joined by a team of 14 others running the Manchester Half Marathon and 10k this Sunday.

The 51-year-old said the whole team have agreed to specifically support the Manchester Royal Infirmary and the Manchester Children's Hospital in light of the attack with the hope the money can be used to support youngsters and their families.

Mr Read, of Newton Aycliffe, said: "These terrorist attacks are atrocities in themselves and the attackers are cowards to target an event where there are children.

"I just think it's appalling and obviously because we can give to hospitals through their Friends charities that's what we are doing."

Mr Read, who will be joined by his 19-year-old son Ben Read, said 100 per cent of the money raised, including fees JustGiving would normally take, will be donated.

To donated visit justgiving.com/fundraising/Chris-Read17 or asmileforachild.org

Ferryhill Town Councillor and owner of the Child’s Play nursery, Laura Leigh Wayman, has also set up a relief fundraising page to support the victims.

More than £200 has already been raised which Ms Wayman said will be sent to Manchester City Council.

She said: “I am horrified by this as a mum and nursery owner. I really feel compelled to help and support anyway I can.”

Meanwhile a taxi firm has also arranged for a minibus to bring several people home to the North-East following the attack.

Blueline Taxis in Newcastle posted on its Facebook page that the firm will send cars to Manchester to pick up stranded people for free.

Manager Ben Bell said the company is instead paying several hundred pounds to a Manchester firm to get five people back safely, with drops in Carlisle, Newcastle and Stanley, County Durham.

He said: “The cost is irrelevant. We are a family business and everyone is involved.

“There are people from Newcastle in the middle of Manchester. They are on their own and are 16, 17, 18."