TWO teenagers from County Durham who were wounded in the Manchester terror attack will return to the city to join fellow survivors in remembering those who lost their lives.

One year ago today suicide bomber Salman Abedi detonated a homemade explosive device which killed him and claimed the lives of 22 innocent concert-goers attending Manchester Arena.

Newton Aycliffe schoolgirls Millie Robson and Laura Anderson were among the thousands of fans leaving the venue at the end of the Ariana Grande performance to be caught up in the atrocity.

Both suffered shrapnel wounds and underwent surgery, and 12 months down the line they continue to live with the mental and emotional effects of the blast.

In a show of solidarity, the brave youngsters are travelling back to the city for an invite-only memorial service at Manchester Cathedral.

The service will be screened in the Cathedral Gardens, and at various cathedrals across the country, while a minute’s silence will be observed to mark the first anniversary.

Garry Anderson, father of 16-year-old Laura, who suffers panic attacks as a result of the attack, said she “felt it was something she wanted to do”.

He added: “Laura’s doing quite well. Slowly she’s getting over it and trying to move on with things.

“We’re so proud of her and how she gets on. “It’s always there, it’s something she thinks about although she tries to put it out of her mind.

“It hasn’t taken over her life but we’re always conscious of it.

“It makes you appreciate things and see the problems you thought you had were nothing really.

“It’s taken a year to get back to normality.”

Hours before the explosion best pals Millie and Laura met their pop idol Ariana Grande and were treated to a VIP night after winning a competition by producing a short video about spending a day in Durham with the 23-year-old singer.

The girls were on their way out of the venue when the blast happened -leaving them wounded and deafened in the foyer.

Recounting the events on ITV’s This Morning yesterday, Millie said: “I remember coming out and seeing my dad and all of a sudden we were on the floor.

“Then the room went really smokey and I remember running over to my dad.

“I don’t remember how I got out but I think I must have passed out on the way out while my dad was carrying me.”

The youngster suffered eight injuries, mostly in her legs as well as in her arm and eye, and spent almost two weeks in hospital.

She and Laura returned to the city in the weeks after for the One Love Manchester concert where she met her idol once more.

Speaking of the encounter with Ariana Grande, Millie said: “It was unbelievable and incredible. She was saying she was sorry and was filled with guilt. She was just a really down to earth person.”

Anticipating the impending Millie, who turned 16 on Friday, said: “There’s not a day that goes by when I don’t think about it. Knowing it’s the anniversary will make it more difficult.”