NEW YORK firefighters have sent a thank you to their Fylde counterparts after crews across the county raised £54,000 in a fundraising walk last month.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters received an e-mail message on Tuesday (Nov 13) from Chief William Wiley at Hainesport Fire Company Number One in New Jersey.

It said: "To All in Lancashire, On September 11 2001 our country came under attack. The Fire Service of NY City took a devastating blow. Our country had been awoken to a new type of terror.

"My Fire Department, the Hainesport Fire Company Number One, is located in the south central area of New Jersey. We were called to assist the NY City Fire Department during this disaster and several of my firefighters witnessed first hand the carnage of this brutal attack. Immediately after we asked ourselves, 'What now? Who do we turn to?'

"I am writing to you because I found out who would help and support us. YOU, the great people of the United Kingdom. I want everyone to know how thankful we are."

Exactly £28,051 was raised on the fundraising walk and the remainder was sent by the public to fire stations across Lancashire.

Station Officer John Timperley, one of the organisers of the walk, said: "We were bowled over by the staggering generosity of Lancashire people wherever our route took us.

"We are immensely grateful to them for their donations and for the warmth of the reception they gave us."

Blackpool Mayor Sue Wright has received a letter of thanks from her New York counterpart Rudy Giuliani after expressing condolences and support to the city following the terrorist attack in September.

Mr Giuliani replied: "Thankyou for your kind letter concerning the attack on the World Trade Centre. I know that all New Yorkers deeply appreciate your thoughts and prayers on behalf of the victims and their families."