A Tory councillor is trying to raise the Stars and Stripes over Hendon Town Hall next month, for the first time ever.

Councillor Brian Coleman wants to fly 'Old Glory' alongside the Union Flag as a gesture of support for the Thanksgiving holiday.

"It would show our solidarity for the States in the wake of the September 11 terrorist outrages," he said.

Mr Coleman, Greater London Assembly member for Barnet and Camden, this week wrote to council chief executive Leo Boland and his opposite number at Camden Council.

He added: "It would be a first for Barnet, but Camden are always flying the flags of other countries for various reasons."

Barnet's New Jersey twin town Montclair now has seven confirmed victims of the Twin Towers attacks, while one of the missing, Christopher Newton-Carter, grew up in Hendon where his mother Linda still lives.

Katia Raina, a journalist on the Montclair Times, this week said her community had seven confirmed victims: Michael Stewart, Howard Kestenbaum, Robert Murach, David Pruim, Caleb Dack, Emeric Harvey and Michael Collins all died.

Ms Raina said many thousands of residents had attended memorial services for the victims.

Thanksgiving, in which Americans celebrate the first harvest of their country's founding pilgrims with a national holiday, falls on November 22 this year.

Council leader Alan Williams said the borough would take Home Office guidance before raising the flag.

"It's obviously something we will take advice from the Government as to protocol and appropriate procedure," he said.

October 24, 2001 17:20

MATTHEW NIXSON