The secretary general of the Hindu Forum of Britain, Ramesh Kallidai joined Cultural Secretary Tessa Jowell, Mayor of London Ken Livingstone, Lord Sebastian Coe and leaders of the capital's faith communities to open the first memorial to the victims of the London bombings.

The London Memorial Garden had been established by Westminster City Council in Victoria Embankment Gardens in the heart of the capital. Council leader, Simon Milton, said he hoped the garden would become "the quiet place where anyone touched by the attacks can lay flowers and grieve".

Tessa Jowell, Ken Livingstone, Lord Coe, Ramesh Kallidai and other religious leaders and dignitaries signed a book of condolence before laying flowers in the garden in a silent and dignified ceremony.

Ms Jowell wrote: "The strength of London and her people is in diversity and tolerance. Our deepest sympathy is with the grieving families."

Mr Livingstone's entry in the book read: "The city will endure. It is the future of our world - tolerance and change."

Ramesh Kallidai wrote: Our hearts go out to the victims and their families. One of the most shameful fall-outs of terror is that it divides communities through fear and suspicion. That is why faith communities must stand even more united in their resolve to come together and fight all forms of terrorism.

The culture secretary laid a wreath of white roses, the mayor white lilies, and the secretary-general of the Hindu Forum yellow roses beneath a historic Indian bean tree planted by the Queen at the time of her coronation in 1953 to mark her accession to the throne.

Each of them bowed their heads and stood in silent thought for a few moments.

Others who laid wreaths and signed the book of condolence were the Anglican Bishop of Stepney, the Rt Rev Stephen Oliver, the chief executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Jon Benjamin, the secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, Sir Iqbal Sacranie and the general-secretary of the Sikh Missionary Society, Mohinder Singh Chahal.