Former dinner lady is buzzing with the response she has received for tribute to the Manchester terror attack victims

Carole Atkinson, 70, has painted a giant image of a Manchester bee on the side of her house in Victoria Road, Padiham.

The grandmother-of-three has been decoratively painting the side of her home for about 20 years, but had recently taken a break.

However following the attack in Manchester, which killed 22 people and injured dozens more, she was inspired to get out her paint brush and pay her respects.

Mrs Atkinson said: "The comments from everyone have been amazing.

"It's gone massive. I've had people from all over Lancashire interested in it.

"It was shocking what happened in Manchester, it was a real tragedy.

"I just thought I would do this to show that someone cares and is thinking about them."

The bee has become a symbol of defiance for Manchester following the terrorist attack at the Ariana Grande concert at the city's Arena last month.

The mother-of-two has lived at the house in Padiham for more than 35 years.

She is well known across the town for her work which has often attracted attention from people in the community.

Previous art work she has created on the side of her house includes a fire engine, a poppy for Remembrance Day and a red nose for Comic Relief.

She tries to carry out work four times a year and expects to leave the bee up until later in the summer.

Mrs Atkinson said she was not interested in art growing up but started painting after being bought equipment by her daughter as a present.

She was also 'blown away' on a trip to Egypt which inspired her to start painting on the side of her house.

She said: "It's something for people to talk about and it brings everyone in the area together.

"I can't do small drawings and bits of art. I can only do it like this, it's the only way I know how.

"Especially when it comes to something as shocking as this.

"It's been great to see the response of everyone, there's a really community feel and everyone supports each other.

"I don't know what I'll do next for my artwork, I'll just see what comes up."

She previously worked in the kitchens of a number of schools across Burnley before eventually becoming an assistant cook at Shuttleworth College.