A regional daily has issued a front page plea for peace studies to be taught in schools in the wake of a terror attack on its patch.

The Manchester Evening News has joined forces some of the Manchester Arena bombing victims’ families to launch its ‘We Stand Together’ campaign, which is aimed at making the city and surrounding areas a “more peaceful, more tolerant and ever more caring place to live”.

The campaign has three stated aims – to get peace studies put on the curriculum of every Greater Manchester school, to encourage and celebrate acts of love and kindness, and to fight hate crimes.

The bid, launched on yesterday’s front page, is also being supported by the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Peace Foundation and Greater Manchester Police.

MEN editor Rob Irvine said: “A dreadful, unforgivable atrocity happened in Manchester on May 22. This was an act of evil and hatred, pure and simple.

“We had the sad duty to report the tragedy of 22 lives stolen, of many more lives scarred forever, of families and communities racked by grief, sadness and anger.

“And we also told seemingly countless numbers of stories that spoke of a city and its people filled with love, affection and a genuine desire to help others.

“In those first few days, many thousands of you sent out a defiant message to those who want to divide our society through hatred and violence. And that message was ‘We Stand Together’. So let’s take that message and turn it into positive action, starting today.

The campaign comes after the MEN took an in-depth look at the background of Manchester Arena bomber Salman Abedi in a three-part investigation published last week.