Family heartbreak at losing beloved Alison

CHILDREN at Broadway Day Nursery, in Royton, tied dozens of balloons to the fence in memory of the victims as a display of love.

A ROYTON husband whose wife was a victim of the Manchester terror attack spoke publicly for the first time over the family's "heartbreak."

Steve Howe - husband to mum Alison Howe - said the pain he and his family have been through is "indescribable" in an interview with Good Morning Britain.

Alison (44) and her friend Lisa Lees (43), also from Royton, had gone to the Manchester Arena to collect their 15-year-old daughters but were stood in the foyer when the nail bomb was detonated.

Lisa's 25-year-old daughter Lauren Lees has also paid tribute to her mum who she described as a "kind" and "beautiful angel."

She said: "My mum was the kindest and beautiful angel who has now spread her wings from this terrible world. She was a loving mum to myself and India.

"We had lots of great times together and spent a lot of time with each other.

"She was a nanna to my son Jayden (7) and was soon to be expecting another grandchild in December.

"She was so excited about the baby and it's heartbreaking they will now never meet, she was a fantastic wife to my dad Antony and he is truly going through the hardest time but rest assured I will gather all the strength my mum gave to me to support him.

"She was a big sister to my uncle Lee and a daughter to my grandma Elaine.

"We were a very close family and our world has been destroyed but her memory will continue to flourish and remain beautiful to us all."

The families yesterday went to Royton Town Hall to lay down flowers and balloons in their memories.

Widower Steve said: "I cannot even put into words what it has been like.

"I cannot describe the pain.

"We are broken in half and I am not a weak man but I have still got enough in me to try and do something about this."

Mr Howe was backed by GMB viewers as he said "enough is enough" and called for the UK to "fight fire with fire".

GMB viewer Coleen Harvey said on Twitter: "The poor chap on @GMB lost his wife he's got every right to be angry and want action rather than words! Heartbreaking."

Alison's step son Jordan Howe broke the news of her death via social media on Tuesday night (23).

The "beautiful" and "caring" mum, described by friends as "the best of us all", would have celebrated her birthday on Wednesday (24).

Alison leaves behind daughters Darcie (15) and Sasha (18) who both attend The Blue Coat School.

Year 10 pupil Darcie, who attended the Ariana Grande concert with friend India, Lisa's daughter, was the first to raise the alarm to her family.

Her dad Steve recounted: "Darcie rang within five minutes to say there had been an explosion and mum was not answering her phone so I rang mum.

"No answer.

"I immediately knew there was something wrong."

Alison and Lisa had gone to collect their daughters. Steve also called a friend who works at the arena who was able to tell him where the bomb had exploded.

He said: "I knew where she would be stood waiting for Darcie. I was at the arena within 20 minutes and from then on it got worse and worse."

Right across Oldham residents stood in solidarity by holding a minute's silence at 11am yesterday.

Hundreds of residents bowed their heads in Royton town centre as they remembered the victims while Oldham firefighters observed one minute's silence at Lees Road fire station.

BALLOON RELEASE

HUNDREDS of pink balloons will be released today in memory of the two Royton mums who were killed in the Manchester bombing.

Family members, friends and residents will gather at the top of Tandle Hill for the commemorative balloon release at 6pm as the community unites to pay their respects to the 22 victims of the attack. Up to 1,000 residents are expected to attend.