Police believe they know the identities of all 22 victims of Monday night's blast and have informed their families, but only a handful of the names have been released publicly.

The victims include parents and friends waiting in the foyer for elated concertgoers to exit, family members at the concert with their young children, and those who had left the venue early - ranging in age from eight years old to 51.

When an improvised explosive device detonated at 10.30pm, many were killed and others were left with profound, life-changing injuries. A total of 59 people were taken to eight hospitals around Manchester, where some remain in intensive care.

In the hours after the blast, many of those who died became the face of a desperate social media campaign as their loved ones tried in vain to track them down.

A photograph of Martyn Hett - a vivacious 29-year-old who appeared on Come Dine With Me and had a Coronation Street tattoo on his calf - was posted on Twitter and Facebook by his family, where it was shared tens of thousands of times.

Hett had been due to set off on a two-month trip to the United States in the days after the blast, and had hosted numerous going-away parties for himself. On May 22, he posted a picture on Facebook reading: "And so the adventure begins". His page has since been turned into a memorial by his family.

Martyn's brother Dan Hett announced on Twitter that his brother had died. "They found my brother last night," he wrote. "We are heartbroken."

Hours later, Martyn's name was a worldwide trend on Twitter. "He would, I think it's safe to say, be f---ing loving this," Dan wrote.

Teen couple Chloe Rutherford, 17, and Liam Curry, 19, were also part of a frantic social media search. On Thursday morning, Greater Manchester Police posted a tribute to the pair confirming they had been killed.

???"On the night our daughter Chloe died and our son Liam died, their wings were ready but our hearts were not," the statement from the teens' families said. "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.

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

Michelle Kiss, 45, had been at the concert with her daughter Millie, 12, who was photographed being comforted by a police officer shortly afterwards.

The mother-of-three was remembered as a loving wife and mother in a statement by her family, who said she was taken away "in the most traumatic way imaginable". "We hope to draw from the courage and strength she showed in her life to get through this extremely difficult time," the family said.

Off-duty policewoman Elaine McIver was also killed, while her partner Paul was left with serious injuries. Her two children were also hurt.

In a statement released through Greater Manchester Police, Ms McIver's family said she was a "much-loved daughter, sister, auntie, friend and colleague".

"She was everyone's friend, thoughtful beyond belief with an effervescent and outgoing personality," they said. "She would have been devastated by the injuries sustained by her partner Paul, and we all wish him a speedy recovery."

The family said Ms McIver "just loved life" and had a major love of music.

"Despite what has happened to her, she would want us all to carry on regardless and not be frightened by fear tactics: instead she regularly urged us all to rise up against it," they said.

"Although we will all miss her beyond belief, we absolutely know she will live in our hearts forever."

Other victims include primary school student Saffie Rose Roussos, 8; Nell Jones, 14, who was at the concert with a classmate; Olivia Campbell, 15, who was remembered as "precious" and "gorgeous" by her mother; and Georgina Callander, 18, an avid fan of television show Once Upon A Time who has been remembered as "kind and beautiful" by the show's actors.