Memorial set up in Fareham park for youngest victim of the Manchester Arena bombing Saffie-Rose Roussos

Eight-year-old Saffie Roussos, from Leyland, Lancashire, was one of the 22 people killed at the Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena on May 22, 2017.

The shrine, which features flowers, teddy bears, photos and plaques, has appeared in the Bath Lane Recreational Ground, near to the children’s play area, in Fareham.

An engraved plaque at the site says ‘In memory of a little princess. Saffie-Rose Brenda Roussos. She came, she smiled. And she captivated the world. 2008-2017.’

Ward councillor Katrina Trott said she was moved by the effort made to remember Saffie.

She said: ‘Her death obviously meant a lot to the person who put it there. They have spent a lot of money and invested their time to make sure Saffie is remembered in Fareham, so far away from her home in the north.

‘My heartfelt sympathies go to her friends and family for this tragedy. It is a very sad time, it must be dreadful for them.’

Saffie was attending the concert with her mother Lisa, 48, and big sister Ashlee, 24, after receiving the ticket as a Christmas present.

Her father Andrew came to collect them, with Saffie's 11-year-old brother Xander and the family's pet chihuahua Binky, when the attack happened.

They found Ashlee outside, but searched for hours for Lisa and Saffie – eventually finding Lisa in hospital the morning after and being told Saffie had died.

Lisa was badly injured and left in a coma for six weeks, waking to the devastating news of Saffie’s death and having to learn to walk again.

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Now the Roussos family and the other families bereaved that night are about to undergo a difficult few months as a public inquiry into the bombing started on Monday.

The inquiry, being held at Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court, will look at the attack, including whether it could have been prevented, the emergency response and the experiences of each of the 22 people who died.

Saffie’s parents made headlines earlier this week as they expressed concern about transparency at the inquiry, calling for answers about how the aftermath of the attack was handled.

Mr Roussos told the BBC: ‘All I hear is lessons learned, but lessons haven’t been learned, and lessons will never be learned, unless we get that transparency and honesty from the people involved to get the answers that we need.’

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