A PHOTOGRAPHER who did his early training with The Chronicle has seen his pictures of the attack on New York's World Trade Center beamed around the globe.

Dan Callister, who works for a New York news agency, was in the financial district when the airliners smashed into the twin towers.

Dan, 26, who grew up in Broxton and did work experience on Chester's now defunct Tonight newspaper, said: 'We were in the area. We were supposed to be doing an assignment down there. It was just after the second plane hit the building that the calls started to come in.'

Dan's news instinct meant he had no hesitation in rushing to the scene, despite the personal risks.

He said: 'It was remarkably close. When the first building went down we were OK but we were there when the second building gave way.

'At that time the firefighters were in the building. It looked fairly stable but then there was an explosion and it imploded on itself. We started running at that point.

'I was taking photographs as it went down. Then all the firemen pegged it and people were screaming. Pieces of debris and a cloud were chasing us down the street. I just dived for cover under a shop awning.

'I waited for the dust to settle and then I went back in there.'

Dan, who attended Harthill Primary School and then Bishop Heber High School in Malpas before moving to Ruthin in north Wales, said some of his pictures had appeared in the Daily Telegraph, The Sun and Daily Express.

'It's been non-stop. I have been averaging six hours' sleep,' said Dan, who said the demands of the world's media were keeping him extremely busy.

Dan, who has covered IRA bombings in the past, said this was the worst incident he had ever attended.

He said: 'There were a few harrowing sights. The worst thing was watching people jumping from the building. They must have felt quite helpless and panicked. They could see no other option.'

He added: 'It was disturbing seeing what was happening in front of you and you couldn't do anything to help.'

Dan said New York citizens were still 'shell-shocked' about what had happened but he believes this will soon turn to a feeling of wishing to seek retribution.

As the drama unfolded Dan's father Ian, a press officer for Cheshire County Council, was at home on a break from work.

Mr Callister said a relative rang him to let him know what was going on. 'I switched on Sky and watched the coverage throughout. I tried to get hold of Daniel for two hours but had no success. The lines were either blocked or we were incommunicado for some reason. BT said it was the sheer amount of calls.

'I wasn't sure how far away his apartment was from the attack.

'He lives in Manhattan. My wife Lesley was on her way to Cardiff at the time and she had been there so she knew it was two and a half miles away.

'But I knew where he would be. He had a job to do.'

Nevertheless, Mr Callister was glad to hear his son was safe if a little tired.

'He's been working flat out,' he said.