Terrified child hid in bushes as rampaging knifeman attacked family and chased victims down quiet street

As screams echoed across Barnard Road in Gorton neighbours rushed from their homes. One living nearby was watching television in bed when they heard 'a moaning'.

She looked out the window and shouted to her family: "Someone's being attacked outside".

She and her boyfriend ran down the stairs and out into the street where they found a child hiding in bushes. She quickly wrapped the youngster in her arms and rushed into her home.

Moments earlier, Alberta Obinim had woken to the same screams. Her family was under attack.

READ MORE: Tributes to 'mother to everyone' as woman, 43, killed in horror stabbing named

The 43-year-old reportedly plucked the child from their room and rushed her from the property. In saving the youngster, Alberta was stabbed several times. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Eyewitnesses told the MEN how others were forced to flee the home - some being forced to escape through the window as a knifeman launched a savage attack.

Tonight (August 19), two other members of Alberta's family - a 64-year-old man and a 17-year-old girl - remain in hospital, where they are fighting for their lives.

Police have arrested a 22-year-old male on suspicion of murder. They say he is "known to the family".

In the aftermath, a colleague of the deceased woman laid a bunch of white roses at the scene. She said the situation 'didn't seem real'.

She told the MEN: "She was amazing, she was lovely. I literally spoke to her last week. She was so kind and caring. It's just a proper shock. She's got a lovely family."

The pair had worked together doing home visits for Chrysallis Care, where she was a hugely popular member of the team. The colleague said: "She was a laugh, she was just funny. I would non-stop laugh with her.