TWO sisters whose parents were killed in the Manchester terror attack say they have been overwhelmed by the strength of support shown to them.

Angelika and Marcin Klis who lived in York were waiting for their daughters outside the Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena on May 22, and were among the 22 killed by a suicide bomber.

Yesterday, hundreds of people took part in a fundraiser at The Ainsty pub in Boroughbridge Road to support their daughters.

A heartfelt message from the Klis sisters was read out at the event in which they thanked everyone for their support since the tragedy.

It said: “We are both really overwhelmed and grateful for today and for all the love and help you have shown to us. We are coping as well as we both can.

“We both miss mum and dad very much but just want to make them both proud of us. We don’t want to think of how and why Manchester happened we just want to try and move forward with our lives and with everything everyone has done for us, it has definitely helped bring comfort.”

Annoula Wilby, a friend of the Klis family, set up the event and said: “They’re doing amazingly well; they’re a credit to Marcin and Angelika.

“It shows how they’ve been raised. They’ve been fantastic throughout the funeral, up to now. They’re coming today, and they just want to try and move on.”

There were a number of stalls at the event, with 17 live musical performers inside and outside the pub, with wristbands and handcrafted items on sale to help raise money for the girls.

Annoula said: “It’s just to try and raise as much as we can, and try to make them as comfortable as we can.

“It’s been amazing, absolutely amazing. It’s been fantastic, not just the community - internationally, people have come together and said ‘what do you need, what can we do?’ and donated nearly 120 raffle prizes to be raffled off this evening.”

Veteran entertainer Tommy Cannon formally opened the event, and donated a one-of-a-kind signed sketch to be sold.

He said: “It’s a fabulous thing this. All these people are turning up to hopefully give generously to help the situation.”

The full amount raised in support of the Klis family had not been confirmed at time of going to press.