Shocked Lions fans glued to television coverage

Lions fan Dr Patrick Pearson (left) was rocked by the news. Pictures / Dean Purcell

Auckland pub manager Jonny Murray was last night anxiously waiting for the phonecall that would assure him his brother was safe.

"I rang my mum and dad and it was my brother's station [that was hit]," he said.

"They have tried his home and his work but he's not there. He's normally at work by 9am."

Eventually at 1am today the call came and Mr Murray learned to his relief that his 46-year-old brother Stephen had not been caught in the deadly blasts across London.

Stephen Murray, who works as a lawyer in central London, usually catches the tube to work each morning.

It was at one of the stops he uses that one in a series of explosions ripped through the underground system during rush hour.

As images of the chaos emerged on New Zealand television screens hundreds of Lions supporters gathered in pubs and hotel rooms to watch what was happening at home.

In Auckland people gathered on Queen St, updating each other with the latest snippet of information.

At the Shakespeare Tavern, where Mr Murray works, about 80 people were in the pub celebrating the Lions' win against Auckland on Tuesday when news of the attacks spread through the room.

"It just stopped," said Mr Murray. "The atmosphere was sobering."

Upon seeing the devastation and images of bloodied people fleeing the underground most people in the pub thought of their family and friends.

Some believed the attacks were linked to London's winning the bid to host the 2012 Olympics. Others said such an attack was inevitable, given Britain's alliance to America during the war in Iraq.

Howard Catling's first thought was for his two children - Richard, 26, and Melanie, 23.

"[They] both commute up to London," he said. "As soon as I heard I tried to call them."

After an anxious wait Mr Catling finally got word that his children were fine.

London doctor Patrick Pearson, who works for the police, was enjoying a drink with his son and a group of Lions supporters when he saw the news flash across the television screen.

"We are just very shocked and upset. We come over here to have a good time ... How can we enjoy ourselves now?

"We are feeling desperately upset about what's happened and worried about our loved ones. We were having a party, the party's gone flat now."

Mr Murray said he had let several people use the phone free of charge so they could check on loved ones in London.

"In times like this you are not worried about $2 for a phone call, are you. You are trying to find out about your loved one, like I am."

Mr Murray was confident his own phonecall from London would arrive with good news, it was just a matter of when.

"I'm sure he'll be all right," he said about his brother, superstitiously touching the wooden doorframe for luck.