The lives of eight families were torn apart this week as they received the devastating news that their loved ones were among those either feared or confirmed dead in the London bomb blasts last Thursday.

Even for an area which has had more than its fair share of terrorist attacks in the past, the roll of those feared dead made grim reading. Neetu Jain, 36, and Anthony Fatayi-Williams, 26, were both from Hendon. Michelle Otto, 46, and Rachelle Chung For Yuen, 27, lived in Mill Hill. Miriam Hyman, 32, was from Hampstead Garden Suburb; Behnaz Mozzakka, 47, from Finchley; and Susan Levy, from Northaw, near Potters Bar. James Mayes, 28, from Islington, grew up in Barnet and left behind two grieving parents in Whetstone.

The first to be officially confirmed dead was a mother-of-two from a small village outside Potters Bar. Susan Levy, 53, of Newgate Street Village, Cuffley, was rushed to the Royal London Hospital, in Whitechapel, after the explosion at King's Cross, but doctors were unable to save her. She is survived by husband Harry, a cab driver, and children Daniel, 25, and Jamie, 23. At the time of the explosion, she was on her way to work, having travelled as far as Finsbury Park station with her son Jamie.

Mr Levy said: "Susan was a devoted and much-loved wife and mother of two sons. We are all devastated by our loss. She was a valued and respected member of her extended Jewish family and will be deeply mourned and sadly missed by us and her many friends.

"We are all distraught at her needless loss and our thoughts and prayers are also with the many other families affected by this horrendous tragedy."

Someone else leaving behind two children and a loving husband is Behnaz Mozzakka, 47. She was travelling to the job she adored as a lab technician at Great Ormond Street Hospital, in Russell Square. Her husband, Nader Mozzakka, of Churchfield Avenue, North Finchley, said: "We found out that she was one of the people on the carriage that blew up. The police called to say that she was on the carriage which blew up and that she was not one of the survivors."

Fighting back the tears, Mr Mozzakka said: "Well you can put two and two together from that." The family, who are of Iranian descent, have lived in Finchley for the past 13 years. "She was a very peaceful person and hated violence," said Mr Nader. "She was hugely loved. This has left a big hole in our lives."

Their daughter, Saba , 24, and son, Saeed, 22, said the loss of their mother had left a huge gap in their lives'.

"She had time for everyone, she had a big heart, and now this has left us destroyed," said Saba. "We are a close family. We did everything together and this has left a huge gap in our lives. We didn't think this could happen at all. She was just going to work, and we can't believe this has happened. It has destroyed our lives."

Friends of Anthony Fatayi-Williams, 26, an oil executive from Watford Way, Hendon, have been searching hospitals without rest.

Mr Fatayi-Williams phoned his best friend at 8:19am at Hendon Central Tube station before boarding the Northern Line but never made it into the offices of AMEC Offshore Services in Old Street, where he works.

Having tried to make his way to King's Cross, via Euston, he is thought to have boarded the number 30 bus after his usual Tube journey was cut short. He called the office to let them know he would make his way by bus instead.

A few days ago, his best friend Amrit Walia put out leaflets and press releases requesting information on his whereabouts. But now, it seems, hope is fading fast.

"There's been no news," said Mr Walia. "But the news is that we already know."

He was confirmed dead yesterday.

His mother, who flew from Lagos last Friday, made an emotional appeal for news of her son's welfare. Speaking at Tavistock Square on Monday, the site of the bus blast, she said: "We are waiting to know what happened to him and I, his mother, need to know what happened to Anthony.

"How many tears shall we cry? How many mothers' hearts shall be maimed? My heart is maimed at this moment."