THE step-dad of Olivia Campbell-Hardy has expressed his thanks for the 'phenomenal' send-off they were able to give her. 

Paul Hodgson, aged 47, said they were able to give her a 'good send-off' and thanked all of those involved in making the day go so smoothly. 

Olivia, who was killed in the Manchester Arena terror attack, was laid to rest on Tuesday afternoon, in a moving and upbeat ceremony attended by hundreds at St Anne's Church in Tottington

Mr Hodgson said: "It was a phenomenal turn out and I just want to say a big thank you to all the people that turned up for us.

"It was overwhelming.

"As a funeral goes, we gave her a good send-off.

"In the evening at the party everyone enjoyed themselves as much as they could and all the kids were there, a lot of her school friends."

After the funeral Olivia's light blue coffin was transported to East Lancashire Crematorium. 

Olivia was a talented singer and recordings of her singing have been widely shared. 

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Two of these, her singing There You'll Be and All of Me were played at the cremation. 

Mr Hodgson revealed they were played differently to the order of the service but added: "It didn't spoil anything. We brought it out as 'Olivia wanted it that way', she wanted her final say. So, there was a little bit of humour in a very, very serious situation."

The celebration held at Bury FC's Gigg Lane was a huge event for friends and family. 

Olivia's best friend, Adam Lawler, who was with her at the Ariana Grande concert, sang a moving rendition of Oasis' Don't Look Back in Anger. 

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Those at Gigg Lane joined in and Mr Hodgson and Olivia's mum, Charlotte, aged 36, joined Adam on the microphone. 

Adam's mum, Sally Lawler, was at the celebration with her son and said: "It was just what everybody needed. It was lovely, all the children needed to come together and let their hair down. 

"It's was really nice considering what it was for."