Workers on the London Underground began a 24-hour work stoppage at 8 p.m. this evening which is expected to bring the network to a virtual standstill resulting in chaos for millions of travellers.
Tonight's action is the first in a series of two planned by members of the RMT and ASLEF unions in a long-running dispute over pay.
If no progress is made in talks between the sides, the second strike will take place next Tuesday.
The full impact of the action is likely only to be felt tomorrow morning.
London Underground has insisted that its 3 per cent pay rise offer, imposed after it was rejected by the unions, was good.
London Underground said it had surveyed 414 people in Greater London about the dispute and found that 56 per cent did not support the strike.
PA