THE son of a New York fire chief who died in the World Trade Centre flew into Britain today and said an emotional "thank-you" to the people of East Lancashire.

Chris Ganci, 26, jetted into Manchester to spend a week with fire chiefs from Lancashire -- many of who were friends with his father.

In the days after September 11, fire crews set up a fund for the families of the firefighters killed in New York and people from across East Lancashire donated money to help.

More than £60,000 was raised, £28,000 from a sponsored walk by all of Lancashire's fire stations.

Chris, dressed in a red New York fire Department polo shirt, said: "I am totally overwhelmed by the amount of money which has been raised.

"It is amazing how a tragedy can bring people together like this and it certainly helps me and my family to realise how much people care."

Mr Ganci, who was close friends with John Williamson, deputy fire chief of Lancashire, had visited Lancashire on several occasions, visiting fire stations across the county, including Nelson, Colne, Burnley and Blackburn.

Many of the arson reduction techniques, such as a dedicated arson team and a specially trained sniffer dog, now in use in Lancashire were inspired by his ideas.

Mr Williamson had, in turn, visited New York several times during the last 15 years, the first of which involved a trip up one of the World Trade Centre towers with Mr Ganci.

Donations to the appeal ranged from £3,000 collected during the Rossendale Valley Motorbike Show to £50 collected by Darwen's Lodgeside Trust.

And winners at a Pie Olympics competition held in Blackburn handed their prize money over too.

But schools and community groups also helped with fund-raising.

Chris, 26, who works for a pharmaceutical company, said: "I am delighted to be here. I've been to London before but this is my first visit to Lancashire.

"My father told me a lot about it. He loved it here and told me the people were great."

Chris also had special praise for Michael Baldwin from Rishton and Louise Demaine, of Darwen, who helped feed emergency crews at their Greenwich Village fish and chip shop in the aftermath of the disaster and who have since raised money.

Chris will collect a cheque for £32,000 from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service tomorrow for a memorial fund set up in Peter Ganci's honour.

The rest will go to another charity dedicated to helping survivors and the families of victims.

He added: "In New York people did everything they could.

"Everybody did their bit and the story of the people in Greenwich Village raising money outside their shop is typical of everything that went on across the city.

"We want my father's memory to live on through this memorial. Lancashire's generosity has made sure that it happens.

"I can't thank people enough. I am humbled."

John Williamson, who is based in Preston but has worked in at Nelson fire station earlier in his career, added: "When I asked Chris what he wanted to do while he was over here, he said he wanted to meet the people and see the places his father had spoken about so much."

Peter Ganci was in charge of New York's Fire Service and died when the second of the twin towers collapsed after being hit by a hijacked plane.

Hundreds of firefighters were among the estimated 3,000 people who died.

Chris, 26, lives in Long Island with his brother Peter, 27, his sister Danielle, 22, and his mother, Kathleen.

His father, Peter, served 33 years with the New York City fire department and won numerous medals of honour.

He was 54 when he died -- and had been due to return to Lancashire this year.

At the end of his tenure as fire chief, he had been expected to work for the Mayor of New York.