A FIRE fighter has spent his reward for 20 years' service and 300 hours of free time on an amazing tribute for his New York counterparts.

Now Kevin Birtwell, 39, a retained officer at Darwen fire station, is looking for sponsorship so he can deliver the 3ft high 'pin and thread' copy of the NY firefighters' badge in person to their headquarters.

He started the meticulous weaving project two weeks after September 11 to pass on his respects by utilising his special skill.

And ever since he has kept his wife and two young children awake to all hours as he hammered 4,000 panel pins into a piece of plywood at their home in Sudell Close, Darwen.

'Pin and thread' kits have been Kevin's hobby since he was a 15 year-old lad. Since, he has produced badges for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service's headquarters and Blackburn Rovers' directors' room.

They cost him about £750 to make -- Kevin used his bonus for 20 years' service as a retained fire fighter to fund his latest project. A colleague who visited America brought Kevin the New York Fire Department's badge so he could begin his project.

First he sketched the badge onto paper, then hammered in the nails around the outline onto the plywood. Once that was done he weaved yards and yards of different coloured thread into each section to build up the picture, in a paint-by-numbers way.

Kevin said it was a meticulous craft that tested patience to the limit.

"The thread often snaps and you have to start whole sections again," he said. "If that happens I just put it down and come back to it another night.

"I did a lot of the hammering in the garage, but I don't think my family or neighbours enjoyed the sound too much! I will be sorry to see it go as I never like to part with them. I wanted to do something more as a permanent reminder for the firefighters. Every firefighter does the same job, so we can sympathise with the New York department as that could've been us.

"There were several poems I read after September 11 by firefighters that were moving and I thought I should do something."

Kevin needs sponsorship to fly him and a colleague to New York as well as to pay for accommodation for three days. He said he wants to present the badge in person and look after the artwork en-route to make sure it is safe .

He said he will save up himself if no-one can sponsor him. He has a meeting with Peter Holland, Lancashire's chief fire officer, in a week to discuss the project.

Anyone who can help should write to Kevin c/o Darwen Fire Station, Union Street, Darwen.