Business as usual in capital

The first device - made up of petrol, nails and gas canisters - was found in a Mercedes left outside a nightclub in the heart of the capital's busy nightlife district.

Some workers were unable to get to their offices and thousands of rush-hour commuters suffered delays as a large chunk of London's West End had been shut down.

Pedestrians and traffic were diverted away from a police cordon around Wardour Street, Shaftesbury Avenue and Piccadilly Circus, and Piccadilly Circus Tube station was closed.

The discovery in the afternoon of a second Mercedes fitted with a bomb in a car park off Park Lane led to the evacuation of the upmarket road and neighbouring Hyde Park.

Part of Fleet Street was also closed amid fears of a suspicious vehicle, but the famous thoroughfare was later reopened after police confirmed the car was no danger.

Scotland Yard said all roads were now open again, and Transport for London reported no problems on the Tube, apart from service suspensions caused by engineering work.

After the discovery of the second bomb, Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke pledged there would be more police patrols.

Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur said the security of a number of high-profile events in the capital this weekend had been reviewed.

These could include the Wimbledon tennis championships, Saturday's Gay Pride parade and the Concert for Diana at Wembley Stadium.