A lasting tribute has been placed outside South Shields Town Hall four months to the day after the Manchester terrorist bomb which killed 17-year-old Westoe Travel apprentice Chloe Rutherford and her boyfriend Liam Curry, 19.
Chloe’s father fought back tears as a memorial bench for his daughter and her boyfriend was unveiled.
Mark Rutherford thanked the people of South Shields and the travel industry for all their support as more than 200 people gathered to see the memorial bench unveiled.
He said: “I’d like to thank everyone that is here this morning, family and friends and people who don’t know us, everyone has been just absolutely amazing to us since this happened.
“As everyone know it’s four months to the day, it is totally heartbreaking.”
Westoe Travel was closed to allow of staff to attend the service.
Owner Graeme Brett said: “It was a very moving occasion.
“The memorial bench gives the family, friends and people of South Shields somewhere to go to remember such a wonderful couple.”
Chloe and Liam’s family unveiled the bench and placed flowers in tribute to the two teenagers.
The memorial bench features Marsden Cricket Club’s logo, the team who Liam played for, and where the couple first met through Chloe’s brother, Scott.
A piano and musical notes are engraved on the bench to honour Chloe’s musical abilities.
The talented singer was studying music at Newcastle College while working as an apprentice at Westoe Travel when she was killed alongside Liam, a Northumbria University student, at the Ariane Grande pop concert in May.
South Tyneside Council agreed to the bench being given a prominent position at South Shields Town Hall in front of a historic statue of Queen Victoria.