A sculptor who worked in the World Trade Centre was today presenting the Queen with a statue inspired by the events of September 11.

Chris Millianos, who lives in Brighton, created the work after seeing three New York City firemen raising the Stars and Stripes at Ground Zero.

He planned to make the sculpture for former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani but was worried about sending it in the wake of anthrax scares.

However, touched by Her Majesty's support for New York, and disappointed by Brighton and Hove's reluctance to support her Golden Jubilee, Chris approached Buckingham Palace about presenting the statue to the Queen.

The 38-year-old, originally from New York State, was delighted when he was invited to the Palace to hand over the work in person.

He worked briefly as a waiter on the ground floor of one of the twin towers.

Chris said: "I started working in the restaurant in 1993, about three months after the first terrorist attack.

"Some of the people I knew might still have been there on September 11."

The statue is made from white metal with a copper coating. It is about 7in by 8in but Chris said he would welcome being commissioned to create a larger version. His ultimate goal would be a life-sized model to stand in London.

The inscription on the statue reads: "New York's Bravest, September 11, 2001. To Her Majesty The Queen in celebration of her Golden Jubilee 2002."

Chris said he has no strong feelings about the Royal Family but said he was saddened little was being organised to celebrate the Jubilee in Brighton and Hove.

He said: "The Queen was very supportive after September 11 and I was very touched by the church service held.

"When I heard Brighton and Hove were being lax about the Jubilee celebrations, I was a bit disturbed."