THE family of Nell Jones have today thanked the community for their support and paid tribute to a ‘lovely girl’ who ‘loved life’.

Nell’s mum, dad and brothers – described by the school as a close family – visited the school on Thursday to see the scores of messages and tributes left in the wake of the Manchester Arena attack.

Fourteen-year-old Nell had attended the Ariana Grande concert on Monday night with her friend, Freya Lewis, but tragically died at the scene when a suicide bomb was detonated in the foyer.

Ernie Jones, Nell’s dad, said: “We are overwhelmed by the support that people have been giving us over the past few days.

“Everyone has been truly wonderful. It was very difficult coming here to Nell’s school today but we are so glad that we did.

“We are deeply touched by what we have seen. The level of support and beautiful messages from Nell’s friends and the community are beyond what we could have expected and it really has helped us. Thank you to everyone.

“Nell was a lovely girl, never any trouble to anyone. She loved life and was very close to her friends.

“She was so excited about going to the concert with her friend Freya. We just hope now that Freya will continue to get well and we are thinking about her family.”

Denis Oliver, headteacher at Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School, paid tribute to Nell and her family, adding that the school was putting together a tribute for the Year 9 student.

Mr Oliver said: “Tributes to Nell continue to flood in. The floral tributes outside of the school and wonderful messages of love, friendship and support have touched everyone. The sense of loss has been deeply felt across the whole of the school and local community.

“Yesterday afternoon, Nell’s mum, dad and brothers came to school to see the messages and tributes for themselves. I cannot imagine the pain that they are going through. Nell comes from a very close family and they are all supporting each other.

“They have been quite remarkable and dignified in the way they have come together in the most awful of circumstances.

“At school, we are trying to gather her friends and teachers favourite memories of Nell.

“Three books of condolence are available and over the next three weeks we will be encouraging everyone to write down their favorite memories or to pin up their photos of Nell on the wall boards in a room that has been set aside.

“A special email address has been set up for anyone who would prefer to send their messages, thoughts or photos this way, the address is rememberingNell@hccs.info."

Twenty-two people died in the attack.