NORTH-EAST firefighters will join those around the world in remembering colleagues who died last September 11.

To mark the anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks on New York, when 343 firefighters lost their lives, and in memory of firefighters all over the world who have died, there will be a minute's silence throughout the UK at 3.30pm on Sunday, followed by the laying of wreaths at various locations.

The event's focal point will be a service of remembrance conducted by the Firefighters' Memorial Charitable Trust at St Giles' Church in London, which will be attended by Government officials, former and current fire professionals, and families and friends of lost firefighters.

In the North-East, the minute's silence will be observed before wreaths are laid outside the fire stations in Pilgrim Street, Newcastle, and Railway Row, Sunderland.

On September 11, Canon Chris Savage will conduct a thanksgiving and commemorative service at Christ Church with St Ann's, Shieldfield, Newcastle, from 12.30pm to 1.30pm. The blessing will be given by the Bishop of Newcastle, the Right Reverend Martin Wharton, and the service will be attended by the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, the High Sheriff, representatives from Northumbria Police and the North East Ambulance Service, and members of other faiths.

Tyne and Wear Fire Brigade's chief officer, Richard Bull, said: "Clearly, the events in New York and Washington last year moved us all.

"The messages of sympathy and kindness, and the generosity shown to the victims and their families by the public and fellow firefighters were truly remarkable."

Big Apple talisman on way

THE man whose response to the World Trade Centre atrocity inspired his nation is heading for the north of England.

Rudolph Giulani, the former mayor of New York, won widespread admiration for the manner in which he took charge after the terror attacks and even received an honorary knighthood from the Queen.

Now he's agreed to give the keynote address at the Yorkshire International Business Convention in Harrogate next June. In doing so he follows in the footsteps of such worthies as former US president Bill Clinton, ex-Russian leader Mikhail Gorbachev and the first man to walk on the moon, astronaut Neil Armstrong.

Mr Giulani served two terms as mayor of New York during which time he cut the city's crime figures by two thirds.

Before the events of a year ago put him in the international spotlight he had also successfully fought off cancer.