A POIGNANT sculpture in memory of the events of September 11 was today being handed over by North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, to be shipped off to the people of New York.

The piece, entitled Ground Zero, topped off the service's cash collection for their New York counterparts, which has raised a staggering £126,433.86 since the terrorist atrocities at the World Trade Centre.

Wetherby sculptor Mike Benn created the 40in bronze sculpture after finding that "after September 11, it seemed almost impossible to think of anything other than that haunting image of those ruined tower blocks".

The piece was created at York College, and depicts a patchwork of blank skyscraper windows, with red glass remaining in one.

Mike, who has exhibited at York's Guildhall, said: "This personal image, caught in the right light, with its coloured glass casting reflections and the empty windows throwing up shadows of crosses as symbols of faith and hope, is my remembrance of a day both tragic and heroic."

The plinth on which the sculpture stands is a centuries old off-cut of stone from York Minster.

Ed Poxon, a sculpture tutor at York College, said: "Mike has undertaken this personal project with sensitivity and integrity."

The sculpture was today being handed over to Eric Clark, Chief Fire Officer for North Yorkshire, along with the cash raised for the heroic firefighters of New York.

Mr Clark said: "The events of September 11 have touched the lives of everyone. The amount of money raised is indicative of the extremely warm and generous nature of the people of North Yorkshire and York.

"I will be very proud to pass Mike's sculpture on to New York."

Updated: 11:16 Monday, February 04, 2002