2,500 drivers on strike in pay row

Workers faced a struggle to get into the office after the action by First employees hit 80 routes across the capital.

The strike began at 3am today and was expected to affect routes in east and west London.

Members of the Unite union are demanding a standard rate of pay of £30,000 across the network.

The company today insisted its offer of a four per cent pay increase was "reasonable".

A TfL spokeswoman said: "London Underground is accepting bus tickets on reasonable routes where bus services are disrupted this morning."