Pentagon repairs will take years and cost 'well over $100m'

US Defence officials say the Pentagon suffered well over £68m worth of damage in Tuesday's terrorist attack.

The 75 to 100ft gash in the building's west wall is expected to widen as weakened areas nearby are razed.

Repairs could take years.

John F Irby, the Pentagon facility manager, says the cost will be "more than $100m, by a long shot", but "less than $1bn."

"The Pentagon is an amazing building. You develop a warmth and affection for its capabilities. You just learn to love this building like a sailor loves his ship," he adds.

The damage and loss of life at the Pentagon might have been even more extensive, Mr Irby says, if the plane had hit a different part of the building.

The damaged section had recently been renovated and structurally reinforced after the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.

"It's safe to say we did survive it better because of some of the features we added," Mr Irby says.