A DARTFORD-BORN New Yorker who witnessed the horrors of 9/11 unfold in front of his eyes less than half a mile from his office believes the world is a scarier place as a result five years on.

Terence Baker, 40, was born in Dartford, grew up in Avenue Road, Erith, and moved to New York in 1993 with his wife Jere.

Five years have passed since two hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center's iconic Twin Towers, killing almost 3,000 people.

Mr Baker, saw first-hand the atrocity from his office window.

He said: "As for my memories of the day, I remember hearing for the first time initial reports of a crashed news helicopter.

"When I got to my fifth floor office, the news was more concrete, and was of an attack on the World Trade Center.

"A colleague and I saw the second plane hit the tower, but for me, it all was surreal.

"I could not hear anything, so to see a plane explode in flames and imagine all the suffering, but yet not hear anything was surreal, and in some ways is more powerful."

He does not believe his life has changed dramatically, apart from there being more aggravation at airports.

Mr Baker further added: "I would say that the world is a scarier place than it was five years ago, but I try my hardest not to let it affect me.

"I pass by Ground Zero once in a while, but there is really little to see.

"I understand why people want to go there, but overall, the area is tacky and there are people who make a living selling 9/11 trinkets.

"After one of my friends, who is a fireman, returned safe after volunteering to help, I really felt no connection with the tragedy on an individual human level."

Terence Baker is travel editor of Meetings and Conventions magazine.