9/11: What County Times readers were doing when the terrorists struck

Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives as terrorists hijacked four planes and attempted to fly them into specific US targets. Three were successful but all four were equally shocking.

It was afternoon in UK when the attacks began and although Powys may be thousands of miles away from New York and Washington DC, residents here, as elsewhere around the world, watched on their television sets in horror as the events of that day unfolded.

The 9/11 Memorial

As the County Times reported at the time, locally books of condolence were opened, words of sympathy were offered by dignitaries, and people attempted to understand what would happen next.

There were also miraculous stories such as those of photographer David Hogan who was in New York at the time and fortunately missed the attacks, much to the relief of his parents back in Newtown, while Llanidloes mayor Angela Morgan conveyed her condolences to the American Ambassador, and Newtown firefighters fundraised for their US comrades.

Now, 20 years later we look back at that fateful day as remembered by our readers who this week shared their own memories.

More than 200 of you responded to our Facebook call asking what you were doing on that day.

Arthur Rodway said: "Working at Gregynog, came on shift and dining room was deserted, found course (large group from Chicago area) found them all packed in tv room, first plane had not long hit, and we watched in silence as it unfolded. There were screams as the second plane hit, and some crying because they knew people in the buildings. We arranged for some of them to use the office phone to try and ring international, or book flights back home asap. I went down to open up the bar. It was a grim day."

Sara Smith said: "Just home from high school doing my history homework. One of those monumental moments where I knew I was witnessing history being made," while Debbie Paterson Gregory added: "Watched it all unfold on TV at a friend's house with my little girl who had been born in the April during Foot and Mouth, such an awful year."

The World Trade Centers prior to the attack

And Lucy Morgan recalled: "On the phone to my sister Sian and she told me to put the news on. Just sat and stared at the screen in disbelief. Our parents were in America and we couldn't get hold of the them for 48 hours. Nightmare. They were fine."