Six practical ways you can help in the aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing

The attack claimed the lives of 22 people but dozens more were injured

Two women receive treatment in the aftermath of the incident (Reuters)

There are several ways you can help show solidarity with the victims of the Manchester terror attack and their families, as well as practical services you can offer.

Here is our guide on how to lend a hand to those in need.

Give blood

One of the most important ways you can help in the aftermath of an attack is to donate blood to injured people who might need it.

The injured are currently being treated at eight hospitals in the Greater Manchester area, with many suffering shrapnel wounds and other serious injuries.

The NHS GiveBlood service said in a statement that it had “all the blood required for hospital patients at the present time”, but encouraged new donors to register and existing donors to book an appointment.

It also encouraged those with appointments already booked to keep them, “particularly if you are blood group O negative”.

In Manchester, the Norfolk House Donor Centre and the Plymouth Grove Donor Centre are currently running sessions for donors and other clinics may schedule extra sessions during the day.

You can give blood if you are fit and healthy, weigh over 7 stone 12 lbs (50kg), are aged between 17 and 66, or 70 if you have given blood before and have given blood in the last two years.

Click here and type in your postcode to find your nearest centre accepting donations in the coming days.

Alternatively for the latest opening hours and to book an appointment call 0300 123 23 23.

Offer safe spaces

Shortly after the news of the explosion broke, Mancunians mobilised to offer rooms to concertgoers left stranded and injured due to the attack.

Thousands were unable to get home when Victoria train station closed and all trains out of Manchester were cancelled.

The hashtag #roomformanchester began trending as hundreds of locals made their spare bedrooms available to those in need.

Their tweets are being shared widely and a Holiday Inn in the city centre sheltered young teenagers who had become separated from their parents.

Give someone a ride

Similarly, many people offered to drive concertgoers home in the aftermath.

The sheer volume of taxis being commandeered - many of which were giving lifts for free - prompted several offers to take people to local hospitals as the city centre locked down.

“Taxi drivers worked free. Homeowners took in strangers. Hotels became refuges. We're not a city divided, we're a city united. #Manchester,” one Twitter user wrote.

Share images of missing people (but make sure they are verified)

Many parents and relatives of those who attended the concert have turned to social media in an attempt to locate their missing loved ones, under the hashtags #MissingInManchester and #Manchestermissing.

Some people are sharing fake images of supposedly missing friends as a way of gaining retweets and shares, and police have warned that people should only trust or share information from trusted sources.

Dozens of people, particularly teenagers, remain missing as they have yet to contact their families with information as to their whereabouts.

On Good Morning Britain, one mother, Charlotte Campbell, broke down in tears as she spoke of how her 15-year-old daughter Olivia could not be found after the attack.

Dan Hett put out an appeal for his brother Martyn, a PR manager who was at the concert, and relatives asked for any information about Chloe Rutherford, 17, and Liam Curry, 19.

If you have any information about a missing person, call the emergency police helpline on 0161 856 9400. Sharing appeal messages will also help widen the search.

Do not share fake information

Several news stories were circulated in the aftermath of the attack that should not be shared, as they have been confirmed as fake.

It is very important to make sure information you share on social media is verified.

Some members of the tabloid press ran articles claiming a gunman had been spotted outside The Royal Oldham Hospital shortly after the attack.

But this story was sourced back to a viral Facebook post, which was quickly confirmed to be fake.

A widely-shared photo, purporting to show Ariana Grande backstage moments after the explosion, was actually taken two years ago during the filming of the TV show Scream Queens.

A viral image claiming to show 25 missing children was confirmed to be an amalgamation of genuine photos and pictures of well-known figures, including YouTubers and the founder of the website 4chan.

Sign a book of condolence

Lastly, if you want to express your sympathy and thoughts for those affected by the attack, please write a message in Manchester City Council’s online book of condolence.

Click here to write your message.