I WOULD just like to extend a heartfelt "thank-you" to all the firefighters in Stourport and the neighbouring communities for raising money for the New York firefighters families.

While I myself do not live in New York City, I do live in Buffalo, New York.

I was directed to your newspaper's website by a friend who lives in Stourport because we like to share news from our respective communities and saw the story about the Stourport firefighters collection.

The whole world was devastated by what happened on September 11 and as in the past the UK was the first to offer support to the US.

Now to see it on a more personal level from the small communities throughout the UK is very touching.

Thank you again to all the firefighters who collected funds and to all those people who contributed.

MICHELE D EVANS

Buffalo, New York