A HEYSHAM family was gripped with worry and panic on Thursday after the horrific bomb blasts in London - believing their son may have been caught in the devastation.

Andy and Alison Uberschar, who was celebrating her birthday, couldn't get hold of son Tony, who lives and works in the capital, after they heard about the multiple bomb blasts.

For five hours they frantically tried to trace the 21-year-old - but only found out later that Tony had a day off work on Thursday.

Normally Tony, who works as assistant manager of a Reebok store in the capital, would catch the underground at 8.30am and travel through Russell Square, the scene of one of the shocking tube bombs.

"It was a terrible few hours. We heard about the bomb and straight away started trying to get hold of him," Andy told the Citizen.

"We couldn't get through on his mobile despite trying all morning and we couldn't get hold of his office either. You start thinking the worst - and the fact that it was Alison's birthday just made matters worse.

"The longer we tried, the more we worried - and it wasn't until about 2.30pm that we finally got through to Tony's office and they said it was his day off.

"It was a real relief to hear that and we then got Tony at home.

"It certainly made Alison's birthday to find out he was safe."

Tony's brother Neil, who plays football for Lancaster City, says: "It is really worrying when you hear something like that and someone close to you is in the area.

"I am glad he is okay - but knowing how Tony spends his days off he probably slept right through the whole thing."