Thousands of New Yorkers have registered their overwhelming opposition to a preliminary set of plans to rebuild the World Trade Center.

We need to recreate symbols of the American spirit Matt, US

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Some 5,000 people, representing a cross-section of New York society, gathered for the "Listening to the City" meeting - billed as the largest town gathering ever to take place.

Using electronic keypads, participants - including relatives of those who died in the 11 September attacks that destroyed the twin towers - responded to six formal redevelopment proposals.

They also debated what form a memorial to the 3,000 people who lost their lives should take.

The six competing plans have met with uniform disappointment

The six schemes, unveiled earlier this week, were criticised for lacking ambition and for the amount of space given over to offices.

A majority of the participants wanted to ban any building at all on the foundations of the twin towers.

The planners said they would take into account the opinions as they narrow the number of projects down to three by September.

Business interests

However, the Port Authority, which owns the site, wants 11 million square feet of commercial office space and 600,000 square feet of retail space incorporated in any redevelopment.

Correspondents said the majority of people at the meeting were not convinced that their suggestions would be acted upon.

The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC), which is overseeing the redevelopment of the site, says it hopes to have a final plan by the end of this year after further public meetings are held.

Construction is not expected to get under way for at least another two years, and it is estimated that the project will not be finished before 2010.