A PIECE of history is on show at Hereford Baptist Church - put there in the worst possible circumstances, but a testament to faith.

The small section of marble lobby from New York's World Trade Centre was brought back by city Police officer Sgt Tim Powell, whom the Commercial Road church can count amongst its congregation.

A priest at Ground Zero gave it to him.

Sgt Powell, who heads the High Town patrol team, was in America with beat colleague PC Neil Beament representing West Mercia Constabulary at Police Memorial Day, a high profile international event which takes place annually in Washington DC.

For PC Beament it proved a particular honour. He was chosen to carry the Union Jack at a 30,000 strong salute to officers who had died on duty over the past year.

There were trips too.

Tours of the US Supreme Court, Prince William County Police Department, Virginia, and the world-renowned FBI Academy at Quantico.

On patrol

Over two days in New York they met up with NYPD officers and patrolled with US Parks Police.

Ground Zero provided the poignancy. In a church where rescue and clearance workers have been based since September 11 Sgt Powell met the priest who sought out a piece of the World Trade Centre's North Tower as something he could take back to his church.

Sgt Powell speaks of being humbled by this gesture of faith where such horror had occurred. But even after so short a time in the States he'd come to expect individual acts of kindness.

"We were made to feel so welcome."

And as for his US colleagues, he found them to be far from stereotype, doing 'the same stuff with the same people'.

It was a sobering thought for both he and PC Beament that 233 were killed on duty last year alone - around three a week.