MORE than 250 ambulance staff and paramedics were dispatched to help the injured after Thursday's bomb attacks.

The swift operation to ferry casualties from the scenes of carnage to hospitals across London was overseen by Martin Flaherty, London Ambulance Service's (LAS) director of ambulance services.

In just over four hours almost all of the victims from the four bomb sites had been taken from the scenes.

That's a fact that Jon Edmondson is particularly proud of. As Emergency Planning Officer, along with most other emergency services staff, he had been sure that a terrorist strike in London was inevitable.

Just two weeks ago Jon had organised a training operation in south London were paramedics were asked to deal with a simulated exercise for a multi-site bomb or chemical attack.

When he arrived at Aldgate station casualties covered in soot and smoke were staggering from the building.

"There were seven of eight really serious casualties outside," Jon said. "And another two or three on the opposite side of the road.

"There were lots of people with leg injuries and there were lots of traumatic injuries were bones had been exposed."

Jon's job was to make sure that the ambulances and medics could work as effectively as possible.

To make sure that could happen he liaised with police officers, some of whom were enlisted to drive ambulances.

The whole operation at Aldgate took less than an hour to complete, but the day was far from over for Jon and his colleagues.

Next they rushed to Russell Square to help other paramedics who were pulling casualties from underground tunnels.

Jon added: "It was a very emotional scene. People were obviously shocked but there was almost a sense of relief that they had survived."

London Ambulance Service has paid tribute to not only its staff, but also the member of the public who stoical cooperation made an invaluable contribution.

A spkesman for the service said: "Ambulance crews did an excellent job on the day. Our thoughts are with the victims."