A SEVEN-year-old boy was so moved by the terrorism attacks he emptied his piggy bank to help the New York firefighters.

This week James Smith, a pupil at Parklee Primary School, took bags of coins and pennies that he has been saving up to Leigh and Atherton fire stations so they can be passed on to help New York firefighters and their families.

James' mum Anna said it was all his own idea to give the money.

Anna said: "I work at Asda and James saw firemen there collecting money. He wanted to help them and he said that he wanted to give his savings.

"He did it completely off his own bat."

After emptying his piggy bank James took more than £10 to Leigh fire station and £5.67 to Atherton fire station.

Anna of Wigan Road, Atherton, is very proud of her son and says his generous action was typical of him.

She said: "He likes helping. He is just like that. I was not really surprised that he wanted to give his money because he is always doing things like this."

Jan Eastham, an administrator at Atherton fire station, said they were very touched by James' gesture and she would be writing him a letter thanking him for the money.

Jan said: "James wrote the firemen a letter it went: 'Dear Mr firemen, I would like to help raise money for the firemen in America so I am giving you my spending money that I have been saving. Love from James.'

"He actually brought the money in himself, bless him."