A 999 call reporting the Tavistock Square blast was broadcast Listen to the call

The routine of council work was quickly followed by the dramatic first broadcast of a 999 call from 7 July when four suicide bombers blew themselves up across central London.

The panic, confusion and uncertainty of that morning was clear from the caller who reported the bus bombing in Tavistock Square that killed 13.

"Hi, um, there's a bus just exploded outside in Tavistock Square - just outside my window," the witness said, losing his breath as he spoke to the operator.

"There's people lying in the road, there's a London bus, it's a 30 I think? There's people trying to get out.

"I think there's ambulances on the way, but there's people dead and everything by the looks of it."

It would be over-egging our own capabilities to pretend we had instantaneous appreciation of what was happening Tim O'Toole London Underground

Then came stories of the confusion of the first hours after the explosions.

London Underground first got wind of an "event" at 0851 when there was a loss of "traction current" and telephones in the Piccadilly Line tunnel went down.

They did not realise three bombs had just gone off on the network.

But as staff dealt with evacuating trains and turning away commuters trying to get in - communication between them and central control was difficult.

"We were virtually blind and confused for a while as multiple reports came in," said LU boss Tim O'Toole.

"It would be over-egging our own capabilities to pretend we had instantaneous appreciation of what was happening."

Three bombs went off on Tube trains, one on a bus

There were so many calls coming in from various areas, as survivors went different ways through the tunnels, ambulance staff at first thought they were dealing with seven explosions.

By 0912 BST, the message that there had been explosions on the Tube went out to transport and emergency services chiefs.

Three minutes later LU took the decision to evacuate the entire Tube network, when they realised it was "most likely the worst nightmare of a terrorist incident".

But still no-one knew the scale of the attacks, how many were dead or hurt, or whether more bombs were primed to go off.

The purpose of the meeting was to look at what lessons could be learnt, and some improvements were noted.

Using a 10p-a-minute 0870 number as the casualty bureau line was a "mistake", the underground radio system was knocked out by the bombs and Tube staff watching events unfolding on TV news, were not given enough information from management.

This could happen at any other stage in the future Andy Trotter British Transport Police

And while various websites were regularly updated - elsewhere it proved more difficult to keep motorists and other travellers informed.

London Assembly member Richard Barnes questioned whether flashing the brief message "London closed" on electronic motorway signs was the best way to stop panic. Apparently they have to be kept to 20 characters, so as not to distract drivers passing at speed.

But each of the "blue light services" - police, ambulance and fire service - felt they had pulled together well and months of preparation had paid off.

They were proud of their response and pointed out individual tales of heroism among their staff and others.

British Transport Police officers, who have a base at King's Cross station, ran straight into tunnels to help, as did other passers-by. Bus drivers took it upon themselves to ferry the injured to hospitals.

Andy Trotter, Deputy Chief Constable of British Transport Police, said the response had been "excellent in trying circumstances", but lessons could still be learned.

"This could happen at any other stage in the future," he said.

"If it does happen again [we need to be] better prepared than ever to deal with another disaster."