Tube escalators are found to be unsafe

Tube travellers were urged yesterday to avoid some of London's busiest stations after escalators were found to be unsafe.

Tube travellers were urged yesterday to avoid some of London's busiest stations after escalators were found to be unsafe.

A total of 20 escalators throughout the network were inspected at the weekend and taken out of commission. It could be months before they are all repaired, management said. Safety inspectors say an escalator failure could be very dangerous for anyone on the staircase at the time.

The stations passengers are being asked to avoid include Oxford Circus, Victoria and Baker Street, which are used by hundreds of thousands of travellers each day. Another 32 of the total 395 escalators on the system are also out of action.