CHESHIRE engineering and construction giant AMEC has been drafted in to help the US rebuild its future after last week's terrorist attacks.

After working all weekend to put the New York Stock Exchange back on its feet ready for today's opening, sifting rubble and dust from its complex air conditioning system, the firm has now been asked to rebuild the heart of the US defence system, the Pentagon.

Workers from the firm were on site putting finishing touches to refurbishment work on ''Wedge One'' of the famous five-sided landmark, which houses the US Department of Defense, when the hijacked plane ploughed into ''Wedge Two'' killing around 190 people.

Helping hand

According to a spokesman workers pitched in straight away: ''Luckily none of our staff were hurt and we immediately started helping the Department of Defense as quickly as we could.

''They then confirmed that we would be retained to lead the clean up operation and refurbishment work on both wedges.''

He said that no exact figure for the work was available at the moment but confirmed it would probably be in excess of £170m.

''No one is sitting down writing contracts at this stage because everyone is working hard to do what they can. In fact we would have been hard pushed to stop our workers from helping out they were down there offering their help immediately.''

Exhausted staff who worked on the clear-up throughout the day then volunteered for further shifts overnight. The total number of workers from the firm involved in the clean-up in America could eventually reach thousands.

It was only minutes after last week's attack that hundreds of AMEC's US construction workers were called on by New York's Mayor Giuliani to help shift the rubble from the ruins of the World Trade Centre.

Within two hours they were on site with heavy machinery shifting debris to make a safe passage for rescue workers.

Human cost

Meanwhile two north west leisure sector businesses were counting the cost of the atrocity today.

Shares in holiday gaint Airtours fell 12.75p or 6.69 per cent to 176.5p in early trading amid concerns that its business would be hit. However, the company said today it was ''too early'' to assess the impact of terrorist attack.

A spokeswoman said Airtours was ''monitoring very closely'' the actions of the US government in response to the attacks. ''A lot depends on what Bush does next. For sure, the Americans will be looking again at their holiday arrangements but it is really too early to say what the impact on our business will be.''

Warrington-based hotels group De Vere was also indirectly affected. The company's flagship Belfry hotel had been due to host The Ryder Cup, golf's most prestigious event, next week, but the event was postponed until next year.

A spokesperson for De Vere said: ''We fully understand and support the decision that has been taken.''

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