IN the aftermath of the devastation that hit New York on Tuesday the big question was how America should react to what many described as a declaration of war.

Tony Blair has vowed to "stand shoulder to shoulder" with the United States in combatting terrorism and the majority of people on the streets of Preston seem to agree. But views differ on how strong any response should be - and against whom.

Joseph Menczykowski, 84, from Ashton, who fought in Italy for Poland in the Second World War said: "It is shocking there have been so many people killed but this is a holy war and we have to be careful what we do and what we say.

He added: "It is right that we back America -- we should not be cowards and stand up for what we believe in but first we must wait and see what the future will bring."

Mike Lupson, a film media student at the UCLan, said: "We have to do something to stop anything else happening. Britain and America should find those responsible and eliminate them."

American tourists Jim and Ann Turner, from Utah, have had their British holiday ruined after hearing of the carnage, and were still waiting to find out when they can go home.

Jim said: "I have taken this very personally and we have been affected by it personally -- not to mention how shocked we are about the poor innocent victims.

"Evil people have done this, we are glad the USA are retaliating and we are glad that Britain is willing to stand by us."

Jonathan Brown, a management student from Plungington, said: "The people responsible are a very frightening threat which we need to control.

"They are brought up to hate Western culture and we now know that they have the intelligence to do us serious damage."

Siraaz Patel, a social work student at UCLan, hoped for a peaceful reaction.

He said: "We should sit down and talk about it because surely we don't want any more people killed.

"We must look at the implications -- the taxpayers who pay for this country's defence system will be the ones who are affected and the ones who are vulnerable."

"We need the powers that be sitting round a table because anything else would be two steps backwards."

kbeaumon@lancashire.newsquest.co.uk