GENEROUS people in Stourport have raised £2,000 towards the appeal to aid the families of American firefighters who died in the wake of the terrorist atrocities last month.

And the fund-raising effort is all the more remarkable as the money was collected in just seven hours by retained firefighters from Stourport Fire Station. firefighter Ray Price, leading firefighter Brian Rees and firefighters Colin White and Paul Middleton show off the collection.

Thirteen firefighters took to the town's pubs and bars last Friday night and collected donations for two hours before returning to Lombard Street and High Street the following day for five more hours.

The collections were organised after 300 New York firefighters died in the rescue bid in the rubble of the World Trade Centre, which collapsed killing 5,000 people after it was struck by two jets hijacked by terrorists.

Firefighter Ray Price, who was among the collectors, said: "To raise this figure in such a small amount of time is quite incredible and shows what a caring community there is in Stourport.

"We want to say a massive thank-you and assure all who gave so generously their efforts are truly appreciated and will join with other funds raised by firefighters across the Hereford and Worcester Fire Brigade."

He added: "As firefighters we all feel closely linked to those who have suffered in America and wanted to do something to help the victims' families cope in any way possible."