SHOCK and sadness reverberated through the Five Valleys this week as residents came to terms with the bomb attacks in London which left more than 50 people dead.

At least four people from the Stroud area are believed to have had narrow escapes as they saw the carnage at first hand, and it is still not known if anyone from the area was injured in the blasts.

In the town, churches played a key role as the faithful went to pray for the victims and their families.

The Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception in Beeches Green reported a steady stream of worshippers, who came in to light candles and sign a book of condolence.

St Laurence's Church in Stroud, which closed its doors after an arson attack earlier this year, also re-opened on Friday and Saturday to provide a sanctuary for those who wished to remember the dead.

Canon Father Barry Coker said: "We just felt it was important that people can come in and put a prayer request on the board or light a candle, or do whatever they want."

But he stressed the importance of not letting the bloodshed lead to a backlash against Muslims.

"The important thing for the Christian community is to hope there isn't any backlash against the Islamic community," he said.

"It is very important that this does not lead to a particular community being scapegoated - I think all Christian leaders would want to stress that.

"There are those who use this kind of violence to create tension and conflict and it is very important we do not let them do that. The worst thing we can do is allow it to inflame religious and racial hatred."

While there was no evidence of a religious backlash in the Five Valleys, there were political repercussions just hours after the blasts.

The words 'As you sow so shall you reap' were scrawled in lipstick on the front window of the Stroud Labour Party offices in Lansdown - an apparent reference to the party's involvement in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

The message was described as 'tasteless' by constituency party secretary John Appleton.

He added: "You wonder what sort of person would do that."

Peace campaigners expressed dismay at the bombings and said it highlighted their fears that the invasion of Iraq would mean less security for the UK.

Stroud's Grace Trevett, who went to Iraq on the eve of the 2003 invasion intending to become a human shield, said: "One of the reasons I was opposed to the invasion was that it would not give us more security, it would make the situation more delicate and I think that is basically what is happening.

"It is never good when anybody is harmed and that is what the peace movement is all about anyway. Every single human being is of value.

"Any infliction of harm on another human being by a political body sickens me."

John Marjoram, Green party district councillor and Stroud's deputy mayor, added: "I condemn all forms of violence whether it be violence from an individual, a group or from a state.

"At a time of mourning for those who were injured in the carnage in London our sympathies should also reach out to thousands of innocent people who have died in towns and cities throughout Afghanistan and Iraq through the actions of the British and American governments."

Stroud's Labour MP David Drew called for urgent action to tackle the terrorists, and said his thoughts were with the families of those affected.

"My concern is that the terrorists are still very much in operation so we need to take them down," he said. "I have always believed that something like this was going to happen.

"Unfortunately there are terrorists operating all over the world now. These people come in to the country on false ID and are only here to cause what they cause.

"I am not sure we need more legislation but I think we need to be more aware."