May pledges extra £4m to cover Manchester Arena bombing costs

The Government is to provide an additional £4 million in funding for Greater Manchester to cover the costs of responding to last year's terror attack on the Manchester Arena.

Prime Minister Theresa May said the extra cash would cover all NHS acute care costs as well as the costs of the North West Ambulance Service.

Downing Street said it brought total Government support to more than £24 million following the bombing last May at an Ariana Grande concert which left 22 dead.

The latest announcement follows a bitter row with Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham who last year accused ministers of offering only £12 million - at least £5 million short of the addition costs incurred by the region.

Since then the Government has committed to pay in full the £9.8 million in special grant funding requested by Greater Manchester Police.

According to the latest details from No 10, the Government is also providing £2.6 million for a mental health hub and £451,000 for social care costs while contributing £1 million to the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund and an £80,000 hardship fund for small businesses affected by the attack.

In a statement, Mrs May said: "We were clear immediately following the attack, just as we are now, that the Government will do everything it can to respond to the needs of victims of terror.

"That is why we have ensured that resources will be available to support victims as they continue to rebuild their lives, and to meet the costs placed on Manchester's emergency services, City Council and health and social care providers in dealing with this tragic and exceptional event."