A TEENAGER who was inside Manchester Arena when the terrorist bomb exploded has described the horrific scenes as thousands ran for their lives.

Ryan Denyer, who lives in Brighton, and his friend Emma Croucher were part of the 20,000-strong crowd attending the Ariana Grande concert on Monday night.

The two were heading towards the foyer when the blast rocked the building at 10.33pm.

The shocked 19-year-old said: “We were so close to the explosion and were part of the first wave of people to leave the building – any closer and we may not have made it back to our hotel that night.

“The concert had just finished and we were walking through a walkway next to the foyer. The walls around us shook as the bomb went off.

“It looked like the walls had burst open next to us and we felt and saw the orange glow of the fire.

“I could see people running around in panic, some on the floor looking as though they were having a panic attack.

“The explosion was a huge bang. It was one of the most horrific and scary things I have ever seen unfold in front of me.”

The attack killed 22 people, including children, and left 59 injured. The home-made bomb was packed with nuts and bolts to cause maximum destruction.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed suicide bomber Salman Abedi died at the scene. The Islamic State terror group has since claimed responsibility for the attack.

Ryan, a general assistant at Sainsbury’s in Lewes Road, said: “Vast numbers of police vans and cars arrived within minutes to cordon off the area and evacuate the building.

“Looking back now, the bag checks carried out at the arena before the concert did not seem very thorough at all and to be honest I could have taken anything in there with me.

“Luckily we got out and made it back to our hotel a while after midnight, while there were crowds of people still stuck in the city centre. My car is in the car park at the arena so I won’t be able to recover it for a few days but that is a small price to pay. We really are lucky to be alive.”

Other witnesses described being thrown by the blast which hurled burning shrapnel across the floor.

More than 240 calls were made to the emergency services and 60 ambulances and 400 police officers flooded the area.

Sussex and England cricketer Danielle Wyatt was also at the concert. She tweeted her 76,000 followers yesterday morning to reassure them she had made it out safely. She wrote: “Thank you for all msgs- I’m safe. Was at the concert enjoying myself like many others - thoughts with victims & families. #WeStandTogether.”

Sussex Police will be stepping up security at public events and large venues and British Transport Police said they were increasing patrols at key railway stations including Brighton.

The Sussex force spokesman said: “Policing in the UK continues to operate at a heightened state against the backdrop of a severe threat level, which has been in place since 2014 and means that an attack is highly likely. There is no current evidence of any specific threat to community safety in Sussex.”

Flags across Brighton and Hove were being flown at half mast yesterday as a tribute to the victims.