BIG-HEARTED shoppers have been filling collection buckets with cash to support families of firefighters who died in the terrorist attack in America.

A total of £900 was donated by members of the public in four days of collections at the Safeway supermarket in Congleton.

The collections were organised by Marie Johnson, well known for her enthusiasm and commitment to raising money for worthy causes.

The money will be forwarded by Cheshire Fire Brigade to the New York Fire Service.

Mrs Johnson lives in Ruskin Road, Congleton, and was sparked into organising the collections by the terrible events at the World Trade Centre in New York.

Hundreds of firefighters died when the twin towers collapsed as they were trying to rescue people from the burning buildings.

Mrs Johnson is hoping to boost the collection total from Safeway by the proceeds of a dance at Congleton Town Hall.

The sequence tea dance is due to be held next Tuesday between 2pm and 4pm.

Admission is £1.50, with her brother Ron Duffey, from Holmes Chapel Road, acting as master of ceremonies alongside his wife Dora.

"I was watching the television coverage of the attacks on the World Trade Centre, and could not believe what I was seeing," said Mrs Johnson.

"It was like a horror film, and really upset me at the time and still does when I think about it. I had to do something, and was really chuffed at the amount of money donated at Safeway. It was brilliant."

Safeway staff Kath Sagar and Jane Wadeson are pictured presenting the collection cheque to Andi McDonald from Congleton Fire Station, watched by Mrs Johnson and Safeway manager Barry Griffiths. IR/1173/25/9.