A GWENT survivor of a terrorist attack has pledged financial support from his own business to those affected by the attacks in America.

Leather goods firm owner Trevor Palmer (pictured) escaped with his life when a bomb went off in an hotel bar in Ethiopia a few years ago.

And now the entrepreneur, best known for the Wet Walker dog boots he designs and sells, says he is donating five per cent of sales to the US appeal.

Mr Palmer, who has multiple sclerosis and uses a wheelchair, suffers tinnitus - a constant ringing in his ear - as a result of the bomb blast at the Addis Ababa hotel. He said: "I was in Addis Ababa on a business trip working as a consultant related to the leather industry.

"One evening I was in the Ghiron Hotel in the city with some business associates at about 8pm one evening when the bar was blown up and at least three people killed.

"I was blown into the air but was lucky as the full blast went into a pillar in front of me but I had some superficial injuries, burns and some shrapnel."

He said people just metres from where he was standing had been killed in the blast in 1996.

Mr Palmer said the recent incidents in the USA had re-kindled memories of that day in a blast caused by an Islamic extremist group.

And the Newport-based father-of-two said he wanted to do something to show his support for those who had been affected by the terror attack in New York and Washington.

"My wife and children, although not with me, were emotionally scarred by the attack as they feared for me and because of this myself and the staff at my business Global Leather Consulting Company Limited have decided we want to make a donation to the New York And Washington appeal from orders received from our on-line catalogue."

The firm designs and sells Wet Walkers dog boots which have created interest around the world and also a range of other leather goods including leather dog leads and a new invention - a flashing dog collar.

The collar was initially aimed at owners who took their pets for walks at night but Mr Palmer sent some to be used by sniffer dogs in their efforts in New York and Washington. AM Rosemary Butler recently visited the GLCC offices at Enterprise Way, Newport, to see first hand how the company operates and get an idea of the products that the firm makes. Ms Butler discussed various issues including support for small businesses and said she would be taking back her findings from the visit to GLCC.

And she said products from GLCC could find themselves in a new showroom being opened at the Assembly in Cardiff aimed at promoting Welsh-made or sourced goods. Ms Butler said: "This business (GLCC) is a good example of the kind of enterprise that we want to encourage in Wales and I shall be reporting back to the Assembly on what I have seen here in Newport."

Mr Palmer recently unveiled leather wheelchair gloves which he designed specifically for the purpose to take the place of the normal type on the market which have to be adapted. The business, which is based at Unit 18, Enterprise way, recently had to take on an additional production and storage unit and is in the process of sourcing new staff.