A WORCESTER mother was oblivious to the terror unfolding in New York - while her terrified daughter saw smoke billowing out of the World Trade Centre.

Zillah O'Hara had been at her mother's home when husband Barry telephoned to reassure her that their 32-year-old daughter, Penny, was unhurt in the terrorist assault.

But Mrs O'Hara was unaware of the drama in which two hijacked planes smashed into the twin towers of the building, leaving thousands feared dead.

"I'd been with my mother all afternoon at the hospital," said Mrs O'Hara.

"I felt really shaky when Barry phoned me at my mother's to tell me. He said don't worry, but...

"Penny rang him to tell him she was OK. We turned on the TV and saw it all on there.

"I thought it was just an accident, I never thought of terrorism."

Penny works in the Press department of the British Consulate building in Manhattan.

Her husband Ian Sarjeant works for the Chase Manhattan Bank in New York.

She had e-mailed and phoned her mother at work, to tell her she was not hurt.

"But I wasn't there because I'd been with my mother," added Mrs O'Hara, of Greenford Gardens, Martley Road, who works for city solicitors March & Edwards.

"It was really a good job that I didn't know anything about it before."

Although she has not yet been able to speak to her daughter - who is due to visit Worcester for a "long-weekend" on Wednesday, October 3 - Mrs O'Hara hopes to be in touch with her as soon as possible.

"I haven't spoken to her, but apparently we can't get through at the moment.

"She's always in contact with us and she will speak to us as soon as she can.

"She keeps saying that she'll be there for only another 12 months, but I'm sure this will make her think long and hard."