London Underground services return to normal after Tube strike chaos

London Underground services were returning to normal after a strike brought the network to a standstill, causing travel chaos.

Fresh disruption is likely later in the month unless an increasingly bitter row over a new all-night Tube service is resolved soon.

The 24-hour walkout by thousands of LU workers, which ended on Thursday night, caused misery for commuters and tourists.

There were hundreds of traffic jams as people drove to London, while buses were packed and huge queues built up at bus stops.

Business leaders warned that the action, the second strike in a month, cost the capital's economy tens of millions of pounds.

West End theatres and restaurants were said to be particularly badly hit as people stayed away rather than face nightmare journeys home.

Unions will meet next week to decide their next move, which could include a 48-hour strike, hitting the capital in the middle of the busy tourist season.

The RMT union said rotas drawn up for the new night Tube, set to start on September 12, were the "rosters from hell" which would disrupt the work-life balance of staff.

London Mayor Boris Johnson, who has said he was "not fussed" about the new service starting on time on September 12, accused the unions of "holding a gun" to the heads of the travelling public.

He continued to refuse to meet the unions to try to find an agreement.

Talks between the unions and LU are expected to resume next week.