TWO Ariana Grande fans who witnessed the horror of the Manchester Arena bombing first hand have backed an MP's call to shut down a loophole in the law.

Shipley MP Philip Davies is trying to reduce the age someone can be given a whole life sentence after Hashem Abedi, the brother of the Manchester Arena bomber, escaped the toughest prison term.

And even though Abedi is unable to receive a life sentence, Cleckheaton's Polly Asquith-Brown and Bingley's Ellie Clayton have been handed a lifetime of anxiety and PTSD as a result of the attack.

"I'm 22 now, I was 18 when it happened. I'm still living with it," Ellie said.

"It's really hard to explain it. For all the pain he's caused and to all the families that lost people, innocent lives that did nothing wrong, I don't understand. He should be given the chance to suffer for the rest of his life. It's not fair all those families suffered and people live with anxiety, I don't think it's fair.

"It still affects my daily life. I still get scared to be in big crowds. I get really worried.

"If anything, it's really frustrating."

As it stands a whole life sentence can only be given to a person over 21 at the time of the crime but the MP wants it reduced to 18.

Earlier this week Abedi, who helped plan the attack carried out by his brother Salman Abedi, escaped a life sentence because he was not 21 at the time of the attack.

Mr Davies is set to table an amendment to the upcoming Sentencing Bill expected to return to the Commons later this year.

In March, the now 22-year-old was convicted of 22 counts of murder, one count of attempted murder covering the injured survivors, and conspiring with his brother to cause explosions.

He was jailed for at least 55 years but could walk free on day due to the loophole in legislation.

Mr Davies said: “At 18 someone knows what they are doing and are old enough to take responsibility for their actions. It is bad enough that life doesn't mean life at all in most cases but restricting the use of actual whole of life sentences just because someone is under 21 is ridiculous.

“If someone is old enough to arrange to blow up innocent people in the most horrific circumstances then they should be old enough to be made to serve the rest of their life behind bars.

“This is utterly ludicrous and Government need to be on the side of the victims and not criminals. The Conservative Party is the party of law and order and I will do everything I can to fight for this change in law and ensure people who commit the most heinous of crimes, regardless of whether they are under 21 face the toughest sentence going and never walk free. The judge at the time made it clear his hands were tied because of laws set by Parliament so it is our job to change that.”

The explosion at the Manchester Arena killed 22 innocent people and injured more than 130. Bomber Salman was also killed.

A public enquiry into the attack is due to begin next month.

Polly, who has attended memorial events for those who died ever since that fateful night, told the Telegraph & Argus: "I very much appreciate the campaign and I think it's good getting it lowered to 18, it's brilliant.

"I feel like he should get a life sentence. 55 years is 2.5 years per life. It's just doesn't feel like justice really.

"It's definitely still there. It didn't feel real for a very long time. It took a long time to sort of come to terms with anything really. I've recently been in touch with people to get some sort of therapy about it. Especially around the anniversary of it, it's really hard because there's reminders everywhere. Listening to the music it just reminds you of stuff.

"I still love her but there's certain songs, like I love the songs, and it's tainted the songs."

Speaking at the start of the court hearing, Mr Justice Jeremy Baker had said: "The reality is that if the accused had been over the age of 21, as was his brother, who of course died in the incident, then it would be the prosecution's case that this was a case where a whole life order was appropriate.

"It is a matter not at the court's discretion… but a matter for Parliament, which passed the legislation to prevent the court from passing a whole order in this case."