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Mancunians have joined together to help each other with heartwarming offers of help amid the chaos following reports of explosions at Manchester Arena.

Social media had many displays of community spirit and generosity as a #RoomForManchester hashtag begun circulating with people offering help.

Some are offering accommodation or a lift amid offers of free taxi rides while other residents are just offering a tea and a hug to those shaken by the blast.

"Ring if you need a place to come sit," one Twitter user offered, providing their phone number.

Another said: "Wonderful people of Manchester using #RoomForManchester to help those in need."

(Image: PA)

One Twitter user said: "My best friend and her flat mates will open their doors to those in need! let them know! #RoomForManchester"

Megan Sasoon said: "Manchester is & always has been strong.

"Seeing twitter full of offers of places to stay, free taxis, etc makes me proud to be a Mancunian."

Some tweets have also appeared of people tweeting about missing friends and relatives following the blast.

Councillor Bev Craig tweeted: "Mancunians opening their homes to those stranded, and businesses offering free rides.

"This is the manchester I love."

Parents have been arriving at the venue and comforting visibly upset children, crying and hugging in the street.

(Image: PA)

There are unconfirmed reports the nearby Holiday Inn Express took in more than 50 children after the blast.

Social media users were urging parents to try the hotel if they could not find their child - but the hotel was not answering their phone.

Olympic medalist Samantha Quek was one person who retweeted the Holiday Inn message.

She wrote: "Please read this and RT if you are in Manchester and attended the concert tonight."

The message said: "I'm not sure what has happened in Manchester and I am not speculating at all but if YOU or anybody YOU know has been disconnected from your child please please please check if they're at the Holiday Inn as they have so far taken in 50+ children that are alone without a guardian.

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(Image: REUTERS)

Dashcam footage earlier showed the moment an "explosion" rocked the Manchester Arena tonight after an Ariana Grande concert.

The footage also shows a flash of light at the arena at the moment the noise can be heard to reverberate around the city.

Shortly after the noise, a man's voice can be heard saying: "No!".

Joe Gregory, 22, of Manchester, tweeted a video shot from his dashcam in a car parked near the arena.

He told social media his girlfriend was inside the venue.

"If you look towards the left you see the explosion and hear the bang," he wrote on Twitter.

"I hope to GOD everyone is ok, and so glad Jess and Em are."

He earlier said: "Never felt so scared in my life."

Some people on social media claimed the video was faked as the footage was time stamped 9.30pm.

But Mr Gregory said the time was still set to BST and he was offended by the suggestion given his girlfriend was inside the venue.

Police have confirmed fatalities and injuries from the incident.

Video footage from inside the arena earlier showed concert-goers fleeing the venue following reports of multiple explosions tonight.

One video has shown crowds of fans running down a stairwell in the venue as panic gripped the arena.

Another video filmed in the arena shows people trying to leave in a rush with screams also heard as pink balloons can be seen floating above some concert-goers.

One person is seen climbing over railings.

(Image: @hannawwh/Twitter)

Emergency services rushed to reports of two loud bangs described as 'explosions' tonight.

People attending the concert by pop star Ariana Grande fled in panic on hearing the noises - some in tears.

Greater Manchester Police tweeted to people to "stay away from the area".

"Emergency services are currently responding to reports of an explosion at Manchester Arena," police said.

"There are a number of confirmed fatalities and others injured.

"Please AVOID the area as first responders work tirelessly at the scene."

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At least 10 police cars, five ambulances and two riot vans have been spotted rushing to the scene - and armed police have been spotted outside the arena.

Twitter users are reporting that they thought it was a 'gun shot' or 'bomb' - but sources say that it might be a speaker that blew during the performance or even balloons that had popped.

The noises were heard at the end of the show - with some reports placing them as having come from near the Victoria Station close to the Arena.

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One fan at the concert described how the explosion hit the venue as fans were leaving the building.

Majid Khan, 22, said: "I and my sister, along with a lot of others were seeing Ariana Grande perform at Manchester Arena, and we were all exiting the venue when around 10.40-10.45pm-ish a huge bomb-like bang went off that hugely panicked everyone and we were all trying to flee the arena.

"It was one bang and essentially everyone from the other side of the arena where the bang was heard from suddenly came running towards us as they were trying to exit Trinity Way and that was blocked so everyone was just running to any exit they could find as quickly as they could.

"Everyone was in a huge state of panic, calling each other as some had gone to the toilet whilst this had gone off, so it was just extremely disturbing for everyone there."

The police have set up a helpline for people who are worried about loved ones; 0161 856 9400.