CHAGFORD Fire Brigade is hoping to form a close bond with a New York fire station to give support to families whose husbands died trying to save lives in the recent terrorism attacks in America.

Around 300 firefighters lost their lives in the tragedy when hijacked planes crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York and The Pentagon in Washington on September 11.

Chagford is one of the Devon fire stations collecting money for the 9-11 Disaster Appeal to help the families of firefighters and other emergency service personnel who died.

Now the station, which is known as Engine 23 of the Devon Fire and Rescue Service is hoping to link with its equivalent in New York.

Over 6,000 people, the majority of whom worked in the World Trade Centre, are missing presumed dead following the attack which is believed to have been masterminded by Islamic extremist Osama bin Laden.

Station commander at Chagford Iain Rice said the team had raised £800 from a collection in Chagford Square and Castle Drogo over the weekend.

'People were very generous and one of the substantial donations was from an American who was over here when the disaster happened,' he said. 'This was the biggest collection we have ever made in such a short space of time.'

Mr Rice said there had been a very positive feedback and a lot of people were glad to be able to do something.

The extent of people's generosity was evident again when three crews in Torquay raised £8,000 in a couple of hours and Bovey Tracey raised £4,000, he said. Collections in Devon have amounted to more than £20,000.

The station commander is travelling to the United States next month where he plans to meet with local firefighters.

'Engine 23 of the New York Fire Brigade is based in the most rural area of New York and it was founded at almost exactly the same time as Chagford,' he said.

'They lost five men in the attacks on New York and we want to help the families — it is not so much the money but the support that they need at the moment.'

Chagford has been host to many firefighters from abroad in the past and Mr Rice said there was always a great understanding and camaraderie between them.