Mr Brown said Mr Psaradakis had given people strength to carry on

George Psaradakis, 49, received a standing ovation when he appeared at the Transport and General Workers' Union conference in Blackpool.

He joined delegates at the biennial gathering with his wife Adriani, son Mario and daughter Christina.

The chancellor told the conference: "I want to salute the courage of George."

He said: "It is not just that he is here today - it is that what he said and did gave so many people strength to face the last few days."

I looked down at myself and I saw that I was okay - the next thing was to do something for the injured George Psaradakis Driver of the Number 30 bus

Mr Psaradakis had been driving the Number 30 bus at the junction of Tavistock Square and Upper Woburn place when the roof was blown off and nearby cars were also damaged.

Police on Friday confirmed 13 people had died.

At the conference Mr Brown recalled Mr Psaradakis's statement which detailed the horror following the explosion.

The driver said: "I looked down at myself and I saw that I was okay. The next thing was to do something for the injured.

"I kept going until my back went. It was agony. We all had important work to do. We are not going to be intimidated."

'Fighting talk'

Mr Brown added: "Let us salute the courage of George."

He praised all public sector workers who had helped those caught up in the explosions, including bus drivers who ferried the injured to hospital.

International solidarity would always triumph over international terrorism, he said.

We will do whatever it takes and spend whatever is necessary to defend the people of this country Gordon Brown

"We fight terrorism for the same reason that has in the past inspired our movement," he said.

"We will do whatever it takes and spend whatever is necessary to defend the people of this country."

Tony Woodley, general secretary of the TGWU, added his tribute to Mr Psaradakis.

"God only knows what George and his family are going through right now, but he and every other victim of this outrage has our full support," he said.