Sunday was the day Exmouth stood still and paid a dignified tribute to the victims of the attack on the Twin Towers 10 years ago.

Charlotte Tuckett, 43, whose cousin died when the World Trade Centre’s south tower was hit by a plane, again attended the ceremony, which has been held in Exmouth’s Phear Park every year since the atrocity.

This year, she jointly laid a wreath, emblazoned with the stars and stripes, with US citizen Bob Strickland, who also lost family in the attacks.

Record numbers turned out for the ceremony this year and at 1.46pm — the British time when the first plane was flown into the New York landmark — the Last Post was sounded by Dave Adams and two minutes’ silence was observed.

The event saw community college students, the police, the fire service, the Air Training Corps, representing the RAF, the Royal Marines, ambulance crews, mayor Sandy Sutton, alderman Bernard Hughes and City of Exeter Pipes and Drums, join in the event.

The event was organised by Exmouth’s Lionel Howell, for the final time.

He said: “More people turned out than ever before - there must have been 200 people.

“I’ve been dogged by a few health problems and it’s time too ease off. It was very moving for me, especially because it was the last one.”