AMERICAN Lynne Charles-worth has accepted a cheque for £42,000 on behalf of the families of firefighters killed in New York.

The money - including more than £5,000 in donations from Evening Press readers across North Yorkshire - has been raised by York firefighters in the 19 days since the World Trade Centre was destroyed in a terrorist attack.

"It's a wonderful tribute from old York to New York," said Lynne, 45, originally from Long Island, New York, who now lives at Low Catton, near Stamford Bridge.

She told assembled firefighters and guests at York fire station that she, like the rest of the world, had watched in horror and disbelief as the atrocity unfolded.

"I had friends who lived in an apartment very close to the centre who had five minutes to run when it was evacuated. They have only just been able to get back in to get their things."

Firefighter Trevor Bell said he and Acomb colleagues had collected £477 from four clubs and pubs - Acomb Working Men's Club, Acomb Conservative Club, the British Sugar Social Club and the Ainsty Hotel. "There was a brilliant reaction. People were very generous."

Firefighter Andy Illston said £3,174 had been raised in a collection around Micklegate and Coney Street on the Friday after the disaster.

The Lord Mayor of York, Councillor Irene Waudby, said the response of the people of York to the appeal had shown how much they empathised with what was happening in New York.

County fire chief Eric Clark said: "I would like to thank the people of York."

Updated: 11:41 Saturday, September 29, 2001