BLACKPOOL South MP Gordon spoke from Brighton after calling a college friend who lives in Manhattan and was taking her daughter to school when the first plane hit the first World Trade Centre tower.

"She immediately dragged her child from school and made a lucky escape," he said. "I am very relieved for their safety but very sad for all those who have lost relatives.

"This is an appalling crime against the whole of the civilised world and all nationalities must be extra vigilant including Britain.

'Here on the Fylde coast we are unlikely to be directly affected, but we must all be mindful to report anything remotely suspicious and one thing that definitely need addressing is the security of aircraft pilots and crew and whether they should carry weapons for their own safety."

Wyre and Lancaster MP Hilton Dawson is concerned an American counter attack could cause things to escalate.

While on the way to Japan to visit his daughter he told the Citizen: "I am disturbed by some of the words being used at the moment and we don't need to be in a war situation.

"Tuesday's scenes of devastation on the TV show an appalling loss of life and although I cannot attend Friday's debate in Parliament I will be writing to Jack Straw saying we should offer all assistance to the US in countering international terrorism in a judicial way."

Fylde MP Michael Jack said: "This is a human tragedy of gargantuan proportions. The constituency has very important connections to the defence industry which we must be aware of, but we are in very unchartered waters at the moment."

Blackpool North and Fleetwood MP, Joan Humble, said: "I agree with the Prime Minister that this affects not just America but all the free democracies across the world. I express sympathy with the families of those killed and injured and we must remember that people from the Fylde coast may be desperately worried about the safety of friends and family."

Fylde coast MEP, Chris Davies, said: "This emphasises how all of us in our safe, modern 21st century society are vulnerable to those motivated by hatred. These are no normal enemy and cannot be dealt with by just military means as we could easily escalate the situation and make more martyrs. We have to find other ways of addressing those around the world with genuine grievances."

Anyone concerned about the whereabouts of family and friends can call the helpline number is (0207) 008 0000.