AN Alvechurch woman wept when she finally heard the voice of her husband who was in New York on business.

Andrew Berrisford, of Latimer Road, was in one of the three Marriott Hotels in Manhattan, just a few miles from the World Trade Center, when it was attacked.

But frighteningly, his firm usually held meetings at the Marriott Hotel at the foot of the twin towers.

Father-of-three Mr Berrisford, 37, said: "We could have been there, right underneath the towers.

"We saw the second plane flying around, then saw the flames as it hit the tower."

It was several agonising hours after the tragedy before Alison Berrisford heard the sound of her husband's voice.

She said: "When I heard his voice it was a great relief. The fact he could have been in the other hotel doesn't bear thinking about.

"I didn't hear from him until late that evening and it was just such an uncertain time. When I heard from him, I just broke down in tears."

Mr Berrisford and three colleagues spent $1,500 in failed phone calls trying to call home to say they were safe.

In the end, completely out of pocket, the trio resorted to buying an international mobile phone because it was cheaper.

Mr Berrisford, who arrived home on Monday, was on his first visit to New York.