AN Ely policeman who carried victims of the July 7 terror attacks from an underground train has been rewarded for his heroism with an MBE. Temporary Inspector Stephen Mingay, 47, of the British Transport Police, was named in the New Year s Honours List in

AN Ely policeman who carried victims of the July 7 terror attacks from an underground train has been rewarded for his heroism with an MBE.

Temporary Inspector Stephen Mingay, 47, of the British Transport Police, was named in the New Year's Honours List in recognition of the part he played in rescuing survivors from the bombed Picadilly Line train.

"I was overjoyed to get such an award," he said.

"But it is just such a shame that I've got it in these circumstances."

Temp Insp Mingay was at King's Cross, co-ordinating the forward-going traffic to the G8 summit in Gleaneagles, when he heard an explosion beneath his feet.

He rushed down to the Picadilly Line platform to find a "wall of smoke" from the tunnel, and quickly reported a major incident to the emergency services. When he got back to the platform he made the decision to venture into the smoke-filled tunnel.

He advised staff to declare him a casualty if he did not come back within 20 minutes, and began the 70ft journey along the tunnel with another member of staff to find the bombed train.

When he got there, he had to reassure the stricken passengers that they would be rescued before he began to evacuate them.

"Some of them were so scared that they had to be physically lifted out of the train."

"As I made my way forward through the train, I came to interconnecting doors, bent forward from the blast, that led to the bombed carriage."

Out of respect for the victims and their families, Temp Insp Mingay will not go into detail about what he saw, but he said leaving some victims behind in order to report information back to rescue crews was the "hardest thing he has ever had to do."

Only when he had to go back outside because of smoke inhalation did he realise that the incident had been part of a wider series of attacks.

"I was sent home at five o clock and then it was back to work on Monday," he said.

The family liaison officer to the families of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman was also honoured for services to policing.

Detective Chief Inspector Gary Goose, who was also a member of the team that investigated the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, has been awarded an MBE.

The award follows a commendation in 1986 for the rescue of two American servicemen of football hooligans, another in 2000 for foiling an armed post office raid, and a third commendation in 2004 in recognition for his role in the investigation that led to Ian Huntley's conviction.

DCI Goose, 44, took the opportunity to praise his colleagues in Cambridgeshire Constabulary: "I am very pleased to accept it, but I recognise that it is as much a tribute to the talents, hard work and and dedication of many of the colleagues with whom I have worked over the years."

He joined Cambridgeshire Constabulary in 1982, and spent most of his career as an investigator at all ranks. In 2002, he was appointed family liaison co-ordinator to the Wells and Chapman families, and was a member of Operation Fincham, the investigation into the girls' murders.

Cambridgeshire Chief Constable Julie Spence said: "I'm delighted that Gary has been honoured for his professionalism and commitment to policing in Cambridgeshire."

A senior manager at the county's fire and rescue service was made an OBE in the New Year's Honours for her hard work and commitment to the fire service.

Cheryl Rolph, 44, who lives in Sawtry, joined the service in 1980 and has moved through the ranks over her 25-year career from fire control operator to assistant chief officer.

"I am very proud to have been recognised for my services to the fire and rescue service," she said.

"I am exceptionally proud to be part of this service and would like to thank, for their support and encouragement, the dedicated people with whom I have had the opportunity to work over the last 25 years.