New York's towers of light

The twin beams of blue light soar defiantly into the night sky where, until six months ago, the twin towers of the World Trade Center stood. Visible from space, the two beams will light up the Manhattan skyline for a month in tribute to the 2,830 people killed on 11 September in the world's worst terrorist attack.

For many in New York, the beams represent, in the words of Paul Marantz, president of the company which installed the 88 powerful searchlights "life, spirit, love and most importantly, regeneration". The £350,000 searchlights are arranged in two squares and will be beamed as high as a mile above the city from dusk until 11pm each night.

Mr Marantz said: "The lights will certainly appear as tall as the towers and most nights many times taller."

Liz McLaughlin, whose husband was killed at the World Trade Center, said: "A lot of families have been waiting for some kind of memorial. For a lot of us, it's sacred ground and a place to say goodbye."

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