VISITORS to the Rossendale Valley Motorbike Show raised more than £3,000 for the families of the fire officers who died trying to save lives in the New York terrorist attack.

The collection was organised by firefighters at the Rawtenstall fire station.

Sub-officer Nick Evans said: "We raised a magnificent total of £3,060. We were overwhelmed by the response -- we have never collected so much money for anything before." The money was collected by firefighters simply taking collection buckets out on to the packed streets of the town during the bike show."

The money has now been sent to the Fire and Rescue Services headquarters and will then be sent to New York.

The organisers of the bike show, which is estimated to have been attended by 40,000 bikers, are also going to present a percentage of their charity fund to the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service's appeal.

Firefighters Rob Buckley, Steve Morgan and Darryl Wood are pictured with Leading Firefighter Wayne Haworth and sub-officer Nick Clough.