CHILDREN in a Gwent school are sending their own special "thank you" to the fire heroes working at New York's World Trade Centre.

And they are doing it with the help of a company whose employees had a lucky escape from the disaster site.

We revealed on September 22 how pupils and teachers at Ty Sign Infants and Junior schools in Risca decided to show their recognition of the rescue effort in New York in a 'Cards for heroes' project.

More than 100 thank you cards were made for the rescuers working at "ground zero" where the total of dead and missing people is more than 5,000.

But the children needed some way of getting their work to the USA.

The idea was conceived by part-time craft teacher Jenni Long - whose children, Jacob, five, and Rebecca, six, attend the school - after she saw an e-mail asking for thank-you cards for the tireless efforts.

Mrs Long said: "The 'cards for heroes' parcel will soon be winging its way to New York thanks to the story being featured in the Argus.

"The couriers, DHL, have very kindly agreed to airmail all the cards and posters free of charge."

She added that she had been overwhelmed by the response and effort put in by the children of Ty Sign infants and junior schools in making cards for the rescue workers of New York.

Mrs Long said that the scheme for the emergency rescue workers is unique in the sense that the majority of card appeals have been for grieving relatives.

Mrs Long said: "The children now feel they have been able to make a positive contribution and I think it has helped them come to terms with the shocking images they have witnessed on television.I'm overwhelmed by the response from the children and the comments they have added to the cards are very touching.

"Most of the people who have looked through the verses have had tears in their eyes afterwards."

DHL had a heartfelt interest in the appeal as they had an office in one of the world trade centre towers at the time of the terrorist attack.

Alan Griffiths of DHL said: "We are only too delighted to deliver then to the city." The appeal was also aided by a the local post office in Risca after they agreed to supply the packaging for the parcel. The Staple office of Newport also helped by providing the envelopes for each card.

*PICTURED: Rebecca Saunders and Adam Rose, from Ty Sign Infants School, Risca, have written to firemen involved in the aftermath of the World Trade Centre terror attacks.