Visitors to one of New York's premier tourist attractions have been left shocked by its sudden demolition at the hands of terrorists.

Hundreds of visitors each day paid a handful of dollars to take in the view from the 110th floor outside platform - the most spectacular view of Manhattan Island and the surrounding sites, including the Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn Bridge, in the city that never sleeps.

Situated in the heart of the island's financial district, it was an unmissable stop on the city tour, the twin towers stood astride Manhattan Island like a mighty Colossus and making even the impressive Empire State Building shrink in their shadow.

Robert Hall, 31, of Burwell Meadow, Witney, was one who took in the views when he rode to the top of the tower in April during a trip to the United States with friends.

He said: "The World Trade Center was an amazing building. It just dominated that end of Manhattan. When you fly into the city's LaGuardia airport that was all you could see.

"Something like this happening just stuns you. You can't believe it. It's like when Concorde crashed, it's more than just a disaster, because it was such an icon."

Izzy Morgan, 43, from Temple Cowley, Oxford, visited New York in February for the third time because 'it's my favourite city in the whole world'.

She said: "The World Trade Center is New York, it's the main part of the skyline. The two towers, the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building were the four most famous buildings in the world.

"I went up there in September last year - it was incredible. You're towering above everything else and it's hard to believe you are up so high.

"When I heard the news I was absolutely stunned, I couldn't believe it. Those two huge structures and they're just not there any more.

"You see one of these tall chimneys being blown up, but when something as big as those two buildings just collapses, you can't believe it. The area around them is so tightly packed."

The fifth tallest buildings in the world, the 1,386ft structures that made up the World Trade Center were first occupied in 1970.

Visitors to the towers took an express lift straight to the 107th floor observation deck - which took more than a minute despite travelling at 25mph.