Police will be “far better prepared” for a terror attack after the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, an inquiry has been told.

Terry Woods, of Greater Manchester Police (GMP), spoke at a hearing to monitor recommendations made following the public inquiry into the attack carried out at the Manchester Arena by suicide bomber Salman Abedi on May 22 2017.

He said a structure put in place by GMP to learn lessons after the attack will remain.

Mr Woods said: “It will be an assurance to us and I hope the public that if anything happens again we will be far better prepared.

“This attack happened on our patch. It’s never not going to be in the DNA of GMP. It’s important to us and that’s one of the reasons why this will carry on.”

He told the hearing on Monday, which was attended by family members of some of the 22 people killed, the inquiry will have a “legacy” in the force.

Asked by the inquiry chairman, Sir John Saunders, if police in other areas of the country should be doing more, Mr Woods said: "As it stands, at present, yes.

“I do think other forces should be doing more.”

But he said there have been “positive moves” towards more training nationally.

Mr Woods said police had fulfilled recommendations, including to regularly review its major incident plan and ensure it has guidance on the roles of North West Ambulance Service and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.

The public inquiry found a decision to send fire appliances three miles away from the scene led to crews arriving more than two hours later.

Sir John said: “To me, one of the most surprising things of the inquiry is that people didn’t realise the fire service were not there, with all their ability to remove people.”

The inquiry, sitting for three days for evidence about progress on recommendations, also heard from representatives of arena operator SMG and the British Transport Police.

This comes after a remembrance ceremony in Manchester last month, which paid respect to the 22 who lost their lives. 

It took place on the sixth anniversary of the attack. Among the lives lost were Radcliffe man, 28-year-old John Atkinson and Bury schoolgirl, 15-year-old Olivia Campbell-Hardy.

Concert goers in Bolton were seriously injured in the attack including Martin Hibbert.