COUNTY Durham schoolgirl, Millie Robson, who was seriously injured in the Manchester terror attack, met the Queen this morning as she visited victims.

Queen Elizabeth spoke with Millie, 15, from Newton Aycliffe, her mother, Marie, and dad, David, during a visit to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital to meet victims of the terror attack in the city earlier this week and to thank members of staff who treated them.

The Queen also spoke to Evie Mills, 14, from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, her mother, Karen and dad, Craig.

Woodham Academy pupil Millie has been treated for leg wounds which she suffered in Monday's attack.

The youngster was caught up in the blast as she was leaving the venue with best friend Laura Anderson, 15, of Newton Aycliffe.

Speaking at the hospital today Millie said: "I have a few holes in my legs and have a little bit of a cut on my eye.

"Compared to other people I'm quite lucky really."

The courageous teenager proudly sported an Ariana Grande t-shirt as she recalled the events after the concert.

She said: "I was in the foyer. I was just walking to meet my dad because he was picking me and my friend up from the concert and then it went off behind us.

"I just remember the explosion, my ears just started ringing for ages and then there were people screaming.

"It was quite scary but you've got to get though it.

"My dad went over to me and picked me up and tied jumpers and stuff around the two main wounds on my leg and he just picked me up and we ran outside.

"And then a lot of paramedics and strangers were helping us."

The youngster had won VIP tickets a week before in a competition and got to rub shoulders with Ariana Grande ahead of Monday night's performance.

"I met her before the show," said Millie. "She was really nice."

Millie's father David was at the Manchester Arena with his partner Jane to pick the two girls up.

He said: "We were at the top of the stairs and Millie and Laura came out and Jane started waving at her and luckily they started running towards us and the next thing there was just this boom.

"It was just white - it was surreal and was just quiet.

"I saw Millie at the bottom of the stairs and ran down and picker her up.

"Jane ran down and picked Laura up and we ran up to the top just in case something else was going to go and then we ran until we got to a dead end to get out the way."

He described seeing a man with blood on his face and a young girl with leg wounds.

"I took my jumper off and Jane took her shirt off and tied it to try and stop the blood and I said 'just look at me, don't look anywhere else' because it was just carnage - bodies and stuff," he added. "I literally got outside and just carried her away from it, making sure she was alright."

Millie was praised by her mother Marie for her display of bravery in the face of the horror.

She said: "When Millie's dad was seeing to her she was just worrying if Ariana was alright and was telling people to go and see people who were more injured than her. I think it shows what she's like - amazing."

On meeting the Queen, Millie said: "She's lovely. It's just mind-blowing really and I didn't really expect it."

The family do not know how long Millie will be at the hospital but expect they will be transferred closer to home in the coming days.

And as the Queen travelled north to show her support to the victims of the atrocity, the nation fell silent today to pay their own respects.

At 11am thousands of people across the country bowed their heads for a minute of sombre contemplation, as investigations into the network behind the attack continued.

Crowds gathered at well-known sites in the UK, including London's Parliament and Trafalgar Squares, and Manchester's Albert Square.

The square in Manchester has become a focal point over the last couple of days, with people laying flowers in the centre and coming together for vigils.

The visit came as hundreds of people gathered outside Greater Manchester Police headquarters for the minute of silence, with crowds pouring out of nearby buildings to join the officers.

Police officers stationed at suicide bomber Salman Abedi's last known address paused their duties to observe the minute's silence.

Uniformed officers guarding the cordon still in place in Elsmore Road, Fallowfield, removed their caps and helmets at 11am and stood facing away from the property.

Their colleagues in forensic examination suits came out of the semi-detached property to join them in the sweltering sunshine.