Teenage sweethearts killed in Manchester bombing 'wanted to be together forever'

A teenage couple killed in the Manchester Arena bombing "wanted to be together forever and now they are", their families have said.

Chloe Rutherford, 17, and Liam Curry, 19, from South Shields, were "inseparable" and "beautiful inside and out", their grieving relatives said in a statement released through police.

The teenage sweethearts were among 22 people killed, including an eight-year-old girl, when suicide bomber Salman Abedi blew himself up after a pop concert on Monday night.

Mr Curry, a former pupil of Gateshead College, was studying for a degree in sport and exercise science at Northumbria University.

The joint statement said: "On the night our daughter Chloe died and our son Liam died, their wings were ready but our hearts were not.

"They were perfect in every way for each other and were meant to be.

"They were beautiful inside and out to ourselves and our families, and they were inseparable.

"Chloe always described herself as ditzy who Liam adored and would do anything for, including dealing with Chloe's demands for chocolate.

"They lived to go to new places together and explore different cities. They wanted to be together forever and now they are."