7/7 bus driver: Olympic joy turned to barbaric day

George Psaradakis has returned to London to be part of the Commemoration services

George Psaradakis vividly recalls how joyful he was on the morning of the 7 July 2005.

The 70-year-old Greek-born Londoner was driving the number 30 bus - he had decades of service behind the wheel in the capital.

"I was very happy because London had won the Olympics to host it in 2012," he said.

"Not only me but the passengers on the bus I could hear them talking about the Olympics."

But as he turned into Tavistock Square in central London, his bus was torn apart by a bomb.

"After that, you know it became a macabre day, a gruesome day after the bombings," he recalls.

"Many innocent people lost their lives in such a barbaric way."

A device exploded on the 30 bus that had been diverted via Tavistock Square.

On 7 July 2005, a series of bombs were detonated on London's public transport system during the morning rush hour, killing 52 people and injuring more than 770.

Three of the blasts happened on the London Underground in the vicinity of Aldgate, Edgware Road and Russell Square stations.

The fourth device exploded at 09:47 BST on the number 30 bus that had been diverted via Tavistock Square.

Thirteen people were killed and more than 100 injured in that bombing.

George Psaradakis was driving the 30 bus in Tavistock square

George survived the blast physically unharmed but witnessing such horror has taken a toll.

He has recently left London and retired to Cyprus but he has returned to the city he loves to pay his respects to those who died, on the 20th anniversary of the bombings.

His former employer Stagecoach paid for him to return to the capital for which he is very grateful.

He says it is important London remembers.

"Every July it comes to my mind all those sad memories.

"But coming to England and participating the in the memorial it makes me happy to participate. "

"I think we have to commemorate them."

Thirteen people were killed and more than 100 injured in Tavistock Square

George is of the Christian Orthodox faith and has taken comfort from it and prays for those who died every day.

"We must remember all those innocent people who lost their lives," he said.

"And whoever wants to, to pray for their souls because their souls they are alive. For me, I believe they are in the arms of God in paradise."

"When people ask me, you were driving the number 30 bus, then it comes into my mind. But me, every day I pray for their souls in my prayers. Every day.

"For me it's difficult to explain but to me their souls are alive."

"Londoners we have to remember them, to come to Hyde Park and Tavistock Square."

What have the terrorists achieved?

His message to Londoners is one of reconciliation and remembering the acts of heroism and kindness.

"We mustn't use hatred and everything, to do things like these bombings. We mustn't do that.

"What have the terrorists achieved? When the terrorist went on my bus, he condemned himself.

"He beheaded himself and by doing that inhuman crime he killed all those innocent fellow human beings.

"Instead of hating one another, we should love one another."

"It was inhuman - inhumanity.

"But at the same time of lots of humanity, altruism.

"Whoever was there and wasn't hurt, ran here and there to help one another.

"This is what I have to say."