THE first anniversary of the Manchester Arena Attack will be marked with a mass singalong led by choirs.

A civil memorial service and a projection of song lyrics will also mark the atrocity where 22 people — including Radcliffe’s John Atkinson, aged 28, and Bury’s Olivia Campbell-Hardy, aged 15 — were killed.

Hundreds more were injured when Salman Abedi detonated a home-made bomb at an Ariana Grande concert on 22 May 2017.

Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese said it was "only fitting" for music to mark the date.

The Manchester Together - With One Voice event will bring together choirs from the city and beyond on the anniversary date. The free event will be held in Albert Square with the final half hour, including a communal singalong, broadcast live on BBC Radio Manchester.

Manchester Cathedral will hold a civic memorial for an invited congregation on the same day. The public will be able to witness it on screens in Cathedral Gardens, as well as at York Minster, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral and Glasgow Cathedral.

Sir Richard said music was "in Manchester's soul" as was shown in the aftermath of the attack when "spontaneous song captured the city's spirit.

"Coming together in song will once again demonstrate that remarkable sense of togetherness," he said.

"It is a fitting way for us to honour those who went full of joy to a music concert but never came back, or saw their lives changed forever."

To further commemorate the tragedy, a second event titled There Is A Light, will be held from May 22 to 26. It will involve song lyrics being projected onto the buildings and pavements in St Ann’s Square.