Security around last night’s vigil in Manchester has been called into question after this reporter was able to get within touching distance of senior public figures without being challenged.

Senior politicians including Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat leader and Communities Secretary Sajid Javid gathered in Albert Square, in the city centre, to pay their respects to the victims of the terror attack at the Manchester Arena.

There was a heavy police presence in the square, with officers checking the stage area and patrolling with sniffer dogs.

But the picture was very different just yards away, at the reception in the City Hall ahead of the vigil.

I was able to enter the event attended by the political figures, peers, civic dignitaries and faith leaders, without a bag-search or being asked to show any identification. An official merely asked my name and why I was there before allowing me to pass into the hall.

My presence there had not been arranged in advance and I was not on any list of invited guests.

But less than 24-hours after Salman Abedi detonated his device killing 22 people and injuring 59 others, I was able without challenge, to stand inches from VIPs who included House of Commons Speaker John Bercow.