Delighted young fans of Ariana Grande got to hug and pose for photos with their idol when she paid a surprise hospital visit to children recovering from the Manchester terror attack.

The American singer also met the family of 29-year-old Martyn Hett, who was among 22 people killed in last month's bombing.

endless respect to @ArianaGrande for coming back to our city and meeting my family and so many others. (I couldn't be there, babies etc) pic.twitter.com/UgZ8nZ39fR — Dan Hett (@danhett) June 3, 2017

Grande returned to the city on Friday morning ahead of a star-studded benefit concert - One Love Manchester - on Sunday.

She took time to visit the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, where some of the dozens of injured are being treated.

Image: Jaden Farrell-Mann says she was thrilled to 'meet her queen'. Pic: Peter Mann/Twitter

Among those over the moon to see her was 10-year-old Jaden Farrell-Mann, who suffered fractures to both legs and shrapnel wounds.


Her father, Peter Mann, posted photos of Grande talking to his daughter and the pair sharing a hug.

He tweeted: "This means more to us than all the amazing things people have done this week. when your daughter asks after her 2nd operation: 'Is Ariana ok?'

"So happy she came I could burst! Never seen Jaden so happy! Even cried again myself."

I got to meet my queen today❤❤love you @ArianaGrande💖💖xxxxxx pic.twitter.com/xTymQaRoN2 — jaden farrell mann (@dustyblu10) June 2, 2017

Jaden, 10, also wrote on Twitter of her joy, saying: "I got to meet my queen today".

Meanwhile, Karen Mills said her injured daughter Evie, 14, was "buzzing" from meeting the "lovely, adorable and humble" star, who she said gave the girl "half an hour of pure happiness".

:: Prince William visits Manchester bombing heroes

Tonight's visit from @ArianaGrande was amazing. Just the lift all the kids (and parents) needed! What an absolute angel ❤️ pic.twitter.com/TD9tHvTDeu — Lauren Thorpe (@LaurenEveThorpe) June 2, 2017

Lily Harrison, who was also injured in the suicide bombing, "looked on cloud nine" after her time with Grande, according to her father Adam Harrison.

Mr Harrison told People: "What Ariana Grande did tonight was so selfless and amazing."

Grande also posted a black and white image of the hospital visit on Instagram, which picked up more than a million likes in an hour.

Image: The pop megastar spent time chatting and posing for snaps, pictured here with Evie

Pop stars including Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Coldplay, Take That and Miley Cyrus will join Grande for Sunday's concert.

Fans all over the world will be able to watch the show which will broadcast live in more than 50 countries across five continents in a global simulcast starting at 6.55pm.

The £40 standard tickets sold out in less than 20 minutes, while those who were at the concert on the night of the bombing have been offered free tickets.

💛 A post shared by Ariana Grande (@arianagrande) on Jun 2, 2017 at 4:48pm PDT

Proceeds will go to the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund to support families and victims of the terror attack.

In a statement on Twitter last week, Grande said of the attack: "We won't let this divide us. We won't let hate win."

Salman Abedi detonated his device as fans streamed out of the arena at the end of Grande's gig on 22 May.

A 24-year-old man was arrested on Friday night in the Rusholme area of Manchester, bringing the total number of people held in relation to the attack to 17, of which six people have been released without charge.

:: Manchester bombing: 'Significant' car seized