Britons tell of New York horror

British businessman Dom Foulsham - working in a skyscraper overlooking the twin towers - said the "almost unbelievable" events were "like something out of a disaster movie".

" It is like being in the middle of a disaster film. It is almost unbelievable. "
Dom Foulsham

The building, one of the world's tallest, has been almost destroyed in what President George W Bush has described as "an apparent terrorist attack". Both towers have collapsed.

Mr Foulsham, of Ladbroke Grove in west London, told BBC News Online of a "huge crashing sound" followed by a "massive explosion".

"It is absolute chaos on the streets outside," he said.

"Broadway is completely blocked with traffic, the whole of the West Side has come to a standstill, people are screaming and sirens are blaring.

"The towers were like giant candles. There is smoke everywhere."

Mr Foulsham, in New York representing a music media company based in London, took pictures of the burning towers from his vantage point.

He added: "It is like being in the middle of a disaster film, it is almost unbelievable.

"I am still shaking with adrenaline, I have never seen anything that could compare to this."

Panic

BBC economics correspondent Stephen Evans, who was in one of the towers at the time of the accident, said there had been an "almighty thwack" on impact.

"The explosion was so huge, so tremulous, that it shook the very base of the building," he said.

Briton James Winter, 30, living in an apartment close to the centre, said he was woken by a huge bang at around 0800 local time.

"I was in bed and there was a huge explosion. The whole building rattled and shook," he said.

"I ran to the window and there was smoke billowing from the south side of one of the towers. Everyone in my building was panicking and running around."

The World Trade Center consists of two 110-story skyscrapers - New York's tallest buildings. One of the towers is just six feet (two metres) taller than the other.

About 40,000 people work inside the complex, and more than 150,000 people enter it every day.

Stunned

Transport and General workers' Union leader Bill Morris broke the news of the disaster to delegates gathered at the TUC congress in Brighton.

Mr Morris, President of Congress, said: "It was, as we are told, nine in the morning on a normal working day.

"It is virtually certain therefore that there are casualties."

The news was received in stunned silence by the delegates gathered in the hall.