A TAVISTOCK woman, who now lives in a village just 20 minutes from the Pentagon in Washington, this week told the Times of her shock at the attack on the US defence headquarters and on the World Trade Centre.

Karen James-Pearson, an ex-Tavistock College pupil and daughter-in-law of the late town and borough councillor Harry Pearson, last year moved with her husband and two young children to Great Falls, a village popular with American government employees.

Karen said she was at home when she saw the second plane smash into the World Trade Centre on live TV — she then heard of the disaster close to home at the Pentagon.

'My reaction, like most people, was one of disbelief, shock and horror. As events unfolded at such a fast pace, one sat there not knowing what on earth was to come next,' said Karen, who said it has now been confirmed that at least six people from her village were killed in the disaster.

She said there have been many memorial services since then, the local community has rallied to raise funds and the Red Cross has been overwhelmed with the response for blood donors.

'Children, who were too young to give blood but who wanted to make some kind of demonstration for how they had been profoundly moved, instead held an impromptu car wash at the local garage in the village to raise funds for charity,' said Karen.

She said the mood in the community is one of anticipation, solidarity and determination to carry on — but there is also a sense of foreboding.

'Most people know on the grapevine of at least one family which has been affected,' she said.

'Life does seem different. There have been F15 fighter planes controlling airspace overhead day and night, homes and cars are bedecked with American flags, and there are children's homemade coloured posters with patriotic messages outside homes and estate entrances,' said Karen.

'The shopping malls are extremely quiet, both because of the economy and security worries,' she said.

Many children in the village have been traumatised by the horrifying events.

But Karen has tried to keep a balance with her own children between keeping them informed and maintaining their usual routine.

She said the general reaction among her community is that 'justice must be done' and Americans are focused on 'making those behind the atrocities pay'.

'However, most realise that rushing in and obliterating everyone in a nation, including the innocent, would only make them as bad as the perpetrators,' said Karen.

She said she and her husband have considered 'very carefully' their future in the USA in the wake of the attack, but as the family have settled and are doing well, they are 'determined to stand fast' and have faith in the US forces to protect the nation.

'We received overwhelming support from friends and family in the UK.

'Initially all calls were jammed but, as you can imagine, we were keen to let everyone know we were safe,' said Karen, who previously worked for Tavistock estate agent David Balment and at other offices in the town.

'It makes me very proud to hear of Tavistock's response to events here,' she added, having read last week's Times front page story of the three-minute silence on the Tavistock-today website.