Tributes paid to bombing victims

By Anna Browning
BBC News

The public have gathered outside King's Cross

Londoners have been paying tribute to those killed in Thursday's bombings by leaving flowers, candles and messages outside King's Cross station.

As the task of removing some of those killed in one of the tube bombings continued below the surface, hundreds of people left messages of condolence.

"I wanted to pay my respects," said one, Andrew Drumville. "There by the grace of God go I."

"It breaks my heart," said another, Khrishna Ramasamy.

The messages varied from the brief - "Pointless" - to the personal - "Miriam, may you be found safe and sound".

I really feel for the families Brenda Varty

And from the poignant - "London will never be the same without you" - to the defiant - "They will not win".

On hand was the Reverend Nicholas Wheeler, of the parish of Old St Pancras, as was the Salvation Army, to offer any comfort for those who needed it.

Brenda Varty was on her way home to Newcastle when she impulsively bought flowers to lay in the area specially set aside outside the train station.

"I feel so sorry, it's just terrible," she said. "It puts me off going back, it's just so frightening.

"I really feel for the families."

The world's media descended on King's Cross as people laid flowers

For Tracy Knatt, 29, and Andrew Drumville, 29, the London bombings were all too close to home.

"We travel through King's Cross every day," said Ms Knatt, adding they had felt compelled to come to the scene.

"Seeing it for real, not just in the papers, makes it seem even more real," she said.

A tearful Krishna Ramasamy asked the question on everyone's lips.

"Who would want to do something like this," asked the 41-year-old, who was born in Mauritius.

"I have got to tell you, this is the most caring, compassionate city in the world. We are all reserved, but we have a heart of gold."