SIAN Roberts has had quite an introduction to her new life abroad.

The 27-year-old left Herefordshire earlier this month for a new life in the United States.

But just over a week later, her new home of Boston was the victim of a terrorist attack that left three dead and hundreds injured.

Sian, who is from Burghill, had been at the finish line of the Boston marathon just 24 hours before the bombs exploded.

She had planned to be there at the fatal moment but had to work due to her employer’s take on a traditional US holiday.

Sian, who moved to Boston on April 6 to take up a secondment with Santander, said: “The Monday was Patriots’ day and used to be a bank holiday.

“It’s now at the discretion of the company to decide whether to have the holiday and thankfully Santander decided against it, otherwise I would have gone to the marathon.”

Sian had been at the finish line on Sunday as she wanted to see the area where it was taking place.

The former Weobley High and Hereford Sixth Form College student added: “Security in our office was tightened and we were escorted to the main entrance and exit and advised to go straight home.”

Sian only has a two minute walk home but said the streets were eerily quiet.

She said the real impact of the incident was not felt until the next day, when the news reported the deaths and injuries caused by the bombs.

“Waking up on Friday morning was probably far worse as I opened my blinds and the street I look out onto is normally hectic in the mornings but there was no one around, no cars, and no people,” she added.

“I turned on the news and heard about the manhunt.”

Sian contacted people in her office to find out what to do, as the news reported that Boston was on lockdown, advising everyone to stay at home.

“At this point, it felt very real, but also like I was watching with everyone around the world as luckily they were not in my area,” Sian said.

“Staying inside all day was horrible, but at least I was safe. The lockdown was lifted at 6pm Boston time and then the situation changed – they found the remaining suspect.”

With the arrest, Sian reported a sudden change in the atmosphere and could hear people outside cheering.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, was on Monday charged at this hospital bed with conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction.

His brother Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, died in a gun battle with police after a chase through Boston.