A POLICE officer who's quick thinking saved lives during the London bombings has been honoured for her bravery.

Elizabeth Kenworthy was presented with an MBE by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace for her heroic efforts to help the injured when a bomb exploded on the train in July 2005.

The mother of two was on the Circle Line heading to Aldgate when the attack happened.

She said: "At first I thought the train had crashed but when I saw the damage I knew it hadn't. The carriage had been torn open like a can opener, disembowelled, I crawled through the door to get inside."

The 48-year-old from Middle Street, Nazeing, has worked for Haringey Police since 1987 and her training kicked in immediately.

She said: "My duty is to help people, that's my job, I had to do something. I couldn't do what we are trained to do which is to clear the area.

"I didn't know how long help would be so the only option was to give first aid, it was the most important thing otherwise people could die.

"I could only see what was in front of me and I didn't know what had happened. I thought we could be here for hours.

"It took 40 minutes for help to arrive and when I got out I was in such a mess. I had used my jacket for first aid and I was covered in blood."

PC Kenworthy discovered a week later that her first aid had helped save the lives of three of the four people she treated.

But at the awards ceremony she said her thoughts were with those who had died that day.

She added: "I'm very aware that people were killed, there were seven on my train. Although I'm proud to receive the MBE, it's not a celebration for that reason, it's very sad. I'll never forget about it.

"I wasn't hurt but it makes you grateful that you are here. If I had got on a few carriages up it could have been me who had died."

She still keeps in touch with one of the men she helped save and said: "He is a remarkable man who lost both legs and recovered from serious injuries.

"He is a hero.

"The biggest honour for me is having a drink with him and to see him standing at the bar. You can't put a price on something like that."

Elizabeth's husband and two teenage daughters accompanied her to Buckingham Palace on March 27.

She said: "I could see them grinning at me when I was in the queue. It was hard for them at the time, they didn't understand why I hadn't come home. They are proud for me, but it's been difficult."