'We hope someone will name it Saffie's Plaice': Youngest Manchester bomb victim's family are forced to sell their fish and chip shop because her mother still needs ongoing hospital treatment

  • Family of Saffie Rose Roussos, 8, are having to sell The Plaice in Leyland, Lancs
  • Saffie's mother Lisa has been in and out of hospital after Manchester bombing
  • Wheelchair-bound Lisa and husband Andrew want chippy named 'Saffie's Plaice'
  • Saffie was youngest of 22 people murdered after Salman Abedi detonated bomb

Saffie (pictured) was the youngest of the 22 victims of Salman Abedi when he blew himself up outside a Ariana Grande concert

Saffie (pictured) was the youngest of the 22 victims of Salman Abedi when he blew himself up outside a Ariana Grande concert

The parents of the youngest Manchester Bomb victim are reluctantly selling their fish-and-chip shop - after spending so much time in hospital.

But the heartbroken family of Saffie Rose Roussos, 8, hope whoever buys The Plaice, in Leyland, Lancs, will rename it 'Saffie's Plaice' after her.

Saffie was the youngest of the 22 victims of terrorist Salman Abedi when he blew himself up outside the Ariana Grande concert in May.

Last month at Manchester Cathedral, mother Lisa Roussos, 48, father Andrew, 43, brother Xander, 10 and Saffie's step-sister Ashlee Bromwich, 23, all said their final goodbye to the primary schoolgirl.

Now wheelchair-bound Lisa's non-stop hospital treatment is taking up so much of their time that the family unable to run the chippy any longer.

Family friend Mike Swanson, 38, revealed on Facebook: 'This is a hard post to write. I've been asked by my friend to help sell his business The Plaice.

'It's in the centre of Leyland surrounded by many pubs, businesses and a very popular. It comes with three bedroom flat.

'Hopefully the new occupier's will keep it a chip shop and give it the name it deserves 'Saffies Plaice'. 

The heartbroken family of Saffie Rose Roussos, 8, hope whoever buys The Plaice, in Leyland, Lancs, will rename it 'Saffie's Plaice' after her

The heartbroken family of Saffie Rose Roussos, 8, hope whoever buys The Plaice, in Leyland, Lancs, will rename it 'Saffie's Plaice' after her

Wheelchair-bound Lisa's non-stop hospital treatment is taking up so much of their time that the family unable to run the chippy any longer (pictured: Lisa and Saffie together)

Wheelchair-bound Lisa's non-stop hospital treatment is taking up so much of their time that the family unable to run the chippy any longer (pictured: Lisa and Saffie together)

'It's the end of an era. We want it to go to someone who will maintain it in its current format. So many people will tell you it's the best chippy in town.'

The announcement was greeted with shock and understanding by locals on the Leyland Memories community Facebook site.  

The Roussos family's wish is for the chippy to renamed Saffie's Plaice, cementing the legacy of their daughter in the local community.

The youngster was a well-known and popular figure around the shop where her parents worked.

Andrew Roussos, father of Manchester attack victim Saffie Roussos with his son Xander, 11 (right) and Ashlee Bromwich (left), Saffie's step-sister

Andrew Roussos, father of Manchester attack victim Saffie Roussos with his son Xander, 11 (right) and Ashlee Bromwich (left), Saffie's step-sister

To mark what would have been Saffie's ninth birthday last July 4th, family and friends gathered outside the family's chip shop, releasing balloons in her memory.

Last month mourners all came clutching a single rose as they packed Manchester Cathedral, just a few hundred yards from where Abedi, 22, detonated his suicide bomb.

A letter written by Miss Bromwich to Saffie was read aloud, where she said: 'I wish I could do justice with my words.

'But how can it be enough to describe the way you lit up our lives. The greatest gift.

'Nothing more, nothing less than I could ever have wanted in a little sister.

'You gave love and life a whole different meaning. Everything I do from this day forward will be all for you.'

Last month at Manchester Cathedral, Saffie's family all said their final goodbye to the primary schoolgirl

Victims' families to receive £250k from money donated by the public

The families of the 22 people killed in the Manchester Arena bombing are set to each receive £250,000 from money donated by the public.

Those bereaved have already been able to claim £70,000 from the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund, set up in the wake of the attack at the Ariana Grande concert on May 22.

The charity's trustees have now announced they will be eligible for a further £180,000, which they should receive in the coming weeks. 

The latest round of payments from the fund will mean more than half of the £18m raised will have been distributed, including £3.5m to those injured in the atrocity.

Trustees of the fund, which has provided access to free financial counselling for the bereaved families, will next decide how and when to distribute the rest of the money.

This is in contrast to the families of the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire disaster. 

Only a portion of the £18.9million raised for survivors has been distributed so far, according to Charity Commission figures.

The families of the 22 people  killed in the Manchester Arena bombing are set to each receive £250,000 from money donated by the public

The families of the 22 people killed in the Manchester Arena bombing are set to each receive £250,000 from money donated by the public

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