A former South London Press journalist has told how he got caught in the debris of the falling twin towers following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre.

Lee Brown, who now works for The Mirror, had to make a desperate scramble through the dust and debris that enveloped the Manhattan street where he was sent to report minutes after two planes crashed into the towers of the World Trade Centre.

Lee described being caught in the deadly shower of ash, rubble and molten metal as being like, “the end of the world”.

He said the air was filled by the smell of burning buildings, while sobbing and screaming echoed around the streets.

As a panicking crowd stampeded through the street he managed to find shelter in a doorway packed with people covered in black dust.