A couple whose son died in the September 11 terrorist attacks have welcomed news of a memorial service at St Paul's Cathedral.

Doug and Laura Eaton, of Ditchling, are also delighted that a permanent memorial garden is to be created to honour the thousands who lost their lives.

Their son Robert, 37, a merchant banker, was working on the 105th floor of the World Trade Centre when the first tower was hit by one of the hijacked planes.

Yesterday, the Government announced the memorial service will be held on the first anniversary of September 11 and a memorial garden will be created in Grosvenor Square Gardens, near the American Embassy in London.

Robert was a chorister at St Paul's when he was a young boy.

The invite-only service will be attended by the Prince of Wales, the US Ambassador William Farish and senior members of the Government.

Mrs Eaton said: "St Paul's has always been special to us as we used to go and hear Robert sing at the cathedral.

"We shall be attending the service with members of our family. A garden is a very memorable idea for the British victims, as well as the American people who were killed.

"It will be lovely to go and visit the garden and sit there. I think other people will feel exactly the same because it is such a tragic thing to have happened."

Mr and Mrs Eaton were consulted about the idea of a garden as a memorial for the 67 British citizens who died in the attack.

Once the plans have been approved by Westminster City Council, it is hoped the garden will be open by September 11, 2003.

Robert, a former pupil of Brighton College, was a keen Albion fan and was a regular contributor to the fans' web site North Stand Chat from the other side of the Atlantic.

Fans set up a memorial fund which raised £25,000. The money will be used to set up a football charity in Robert's name for underprivileged children in New York.