Wedding party strands underground users

Passengers using underground services in Glasgow faced disruption last night when staff were given time off for a wedding reception.

Glasgow Underground told users services to three stations on the same line were being halted four hours early, closing at 7.15pm rather than 11.30pm. The Scottish Rail Passengers Committee criticised the move, saying it was "irresponsible" for the company to "let customers down".

Posters were put up at the three stations – Kinning Park, Kelvinhall and West Street – warning them of the closures. Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT), which runs the underground, has allowed 30 members of staff to take the night off to attend the reception for two SPT employees.

Maureen Kelly, 33, and Manus McGhee, 43, both station masters on the subway in Glasgow, tied the knot at Eastwood Register Office and invited their colleagues to the reception at Celtic Football Club's Parkhead stadium.

A spokesman for the passengers' committee said: "Members of the public have paid for this public service. Customers must come first and they are entitled to receive the services on offer.

"We understand that this must have been a difficult situation for SPT because they would not want a situation whereby people going to the reception called in sick and left them short-staffed," he added.

A spokesman for SPT said posters were placed in stations to warn the public.