THE funeral of Manchester attack victim Nell Jones will take place next week.

Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School student Nell, 14, was one of 22 people killed when a suicide bomb was detonated after an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena on May 22.

Family and friends will come together to say goodbye at St Michael and All Angels Church in Middlewich at noon on Thursday, June 22.

Tributes have flooded in for the Year 9 pupil, with HCCS staff collating the tributes on the school website.

HCCS headteacher Denis Oliver said: "The time has come for everyone to say goodbye to Nell. I know that this will be a very difficult time for all of us who knew Nell.

"When we first found out that Nell had died, Mr Wheeler, form tutor, said that, for her tutor group, it was more like losing a sister than classmate.

"Looking at the wonderful tributes that we have received in memory of Nell, it very much feels that his assessment was entirely apt.

"I know, from speaking to Nell’s mum and dad, that they have taken great comfort from all of the messages, flowers and other tributes that have flooded in.

"Thank you to everyone for showing how our whole school, and local community, have been united in our loss and are supporting each other through it.

"Mr and Mrs Jones, Nell’s mum and dad, have informed me that Nell’s funeral will take place on Thursday, June 22 at 12 noon at Saint Michael and All Angels Church in Middlewich.

"They have stated that they would like any students who wish to attend to be given leave of absence and I am happy to comply with their wishes.

"I know that we are likely to have many students who will wish to attend so I have written out to parents today asking them to let us know their intentions.

"Rector Simon Drew and the funeral director Paul Hampton have informed me that they are expecting the church to be full to capacity and so we will be reserving some seats in the church for students.

"Demand is likely to be greater than the number of seats available. For this reason we have asked parents to let us know their intentions by next Monday morning [June 19] at the latest. 

"I have been a teacher for more years than I care to mention, and the headteacher here for twenty years.

"With my team we have faced many challenges, but nothing can prepare us for the loss of such a wonderful and caring young lady like Nell in such tragic circumstances.

"We will say goodbye to Nell on Thursday but we will never forget that she was one of us. We will never ever forget Nell."

Nell had attended the concert with her friend Freya Lewis, who was seriously injured in the attack and is recovering in hospital.