Drivers' strike brings chaos to London Underground

The London Underground network was severely disrupted yesterday when 100 drivers refused to work because of safety fears caused by the firefighters' strike.

John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister, condemned the drivers' action, saying it "cannot be condoned and is unacceptable" because the Health and Safety Executive had judged Tube services safe.

Travellers endured long delays and disruption from cancelled services. One of the main routes into the City stopped completely. The Waterloo and City line, which takes tens of thousands of passengers into the capital's financial heart, was suspended when drivers refused to work.

There were long delays on the Piccadilly line, normally used by 650,000 passengers a day. Ten of 64 trains were running and large parts of the line were shut. Trains were running only between Acton and Heathrow to the west. Long delays were also reported on the Northern line, normally used by 700,000 people a day.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "My understanding is that the management of the Underground are talking to the health and safety representatives of the trade unions to try and resolve this. I think it is best that those talks take place without any intervention from us, which could escalate things."

Twenty-two stations were fully or partly closed by London Underground. They will reopen at 6pm today when the strike ends. Lifts were shut as a precaution.

The rail unions had said that they would support any members who refused to work because of fears for their own and passengers' safety.

Bob Crow, general secretary of the Rail Maritime and Transport union, said his members had reported for work for London Underground. But he said they had the right and responsibility not to undertake duties that put themselves and others in danger. "If LU victimises any of our members for exercising their legal right, we will immediately ballot for industrial action," he said.