A BURNLEY businessman has told of his first hand experiences of the unprecedented scenes of devastation in New York that shocked the world.

Speaking from his home in Manhattan Island Anthony Horne, 32, whose father, Harry and mother, Sheila, still live in Brunshaw Road, Burnley, spoke of his disbelief at the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre.

His apartment is only a 20-minute walk away from the famous twin towers which for 30 years dominated the Manhattan skyline.

Only eight hours before the attacks he was eating at a restaurant in the shadow of the World Trade Centre.

He said: "I am certain that the restaurant can't be there any more. It must be under a pile of rubble."

Anthony, a vice president of a wallcoverings company, was in his Manhattan apartment when the first plane struck the north tower on Tuesday morning their time.

He said: "I woke up about 8.30 in the morning and was on the phone to one of my sales directors.

"I turned on the television with the sound down, just to find out the time and the temperature in the city.

"At about 9.01am it suddenly flashed up with a picture of the north tower of the World Trade Centre. It had a hole in it and smoke was billowing out."

He then rang his father, Harry, in Burnley to let him know what had happened.

"I was speaking to my parents from the balcony of my apartment, and they couldn't believe the noise.

"About an hour after that there was an appeal for all able bodied men to go into the street to assist the emergency services, but when I got there people were being turned back."

Anthony then returned to his apartment.

Speaking yesterday in New York, the morning after the attacks, Anthony gave an insight into what life was like in the devastated city. "I went out last night to get something to eat. I managed to find a diner that was open, but most of the bars and restaurants in Manhattan were closed.

"It was an eerie feeling to see one of the busiest places in the world so quiet. I have never seen New York quieter.

"Today I went for a drink in Soho and there was a guy walking down the street with a huge American flag. I thought it was poignant.

"Some people are just getting on with their lives. You can go into the street and see girls laughing about something but then the next person may be crying their eyes out."

Back home in Burnley, his father Harry only knew of what was happening after Anthony telephoned.

He said: "I didn't know anything about this until Anthony rang to say that a plane had come down near his home."

"He lives only a couple of miles away from the World Trade Centre, but because of the other tall buildings he could not see what was going on.

"While he was speaking to me on the phone he turned on his television and said 'good God there has been another plane crash'"

"Then there was an announcement on American television to say that suicide terrorists were responsible.

"He was talking to me on his cell phone from the balcony of his apartment. In the background I could hear a big commotion. Noise and sirens.

"He was really concerned because he was close to it and he didn't know where the next attack might come from.

Anthony, a former pupil of Barden High School and Burnley College, still has a home in Clitheroe. He has been told by the American authorities that he cannot leave Manhattan Island. Roads, tunnels and bridges, leaving or entering the island have been sealed off.