KINDHEARTS throughout the North-west have donated £250,000 to families of US firefighters who lost their lives in the September 11 terrorist attack in New York.

It is hoped that the figure will rise to £275,000 by the close of the Greater Manchester Fire Service's fundraising effort on May 31.

Two New York firefighters, Joe Torrillo and Thomas Gogarty, who visited Manchester in the aftermath of the tragedy, will return to the region next week to accept a final fund raising cheque on behalf of their tragic colleagues.