Several London Underground lines have shut as a 24-hour strike by Tube workers got underway on Wednesday evening.

Trains stopped running on the Central and Waterloo and City lines at 2000 BST, with the Victoria line closing at 2100 BST and others following shortly after.

There were delays on the Piccadilly line, while the Bakerloo line had no service between Queen's Park and Harrow and Wealdstone.

A London Underground (LU) official said the message to travellers had been "get out of London" by 2100 BST.

Commuters are warned that travel services will be "severely restricted" during Thursday, and that they should not count on getting to work by Tube.

It's difficult to forecast what services might actually run, but we will do what we can

Andy Barr, London Underground

Travellers at Victoria Underground station spoke of the chaos on Friday evening.

"It's a nightmare," said Jennifer Cornall, 23, of East Ham, east London.

"I am going to have to get two overground trains to get back. Usually the journey would take 40 to 50 minutes but I think it will be more like two hours tonight."

Eugene Homewood, 21, of Hackney, said he did not know how he was going to get home. "The buses and taxis are all going to be full.

'Angry'

"I'm going to have to leave about three hours to get back into work in the morning. I don't think striking is the answer."

Catherine, an actress from Australia on her way to a party, missed the last train from Chancery Lane station at 1920 BST.

"I'm angry. I thought this was supposed to be a better system than we have at home," she said.

I'm going to have to leave about three hours to get back into work in the morning

Passenger Eugene Homewood

About three million commuters are likely to be affected by the walkout by Rail Maritime and Transport union (RMT) members.

Few Tube services are expected to run on Thursday, although London Underground said attempts would be made to run trains wherever possible.

Andy Barr, from LU, said: "We are sorry if Tube users are to face unnecessary problems in getting to work.

"It's difficult to forecast what services might actually run, but we will do what we can."

Walking urged

There are not expected to be any extra buses although Transport for London (TfL) has introduced a "one-off" route during the strike between Oxford Circus and Victoria.

The mayor's transport authority will also be running free river services between Tower Pier and Westminster Pier during peak hours.

People are being urged to consider whether walking could be the quickest mode of transport, and three special walking maps have been produced to help them.

Advice to passengers is to stagger journeys and allow extra time wherever possible.

'Completely inadequate'

The RMT, which represents signallers, station staff and some drivers, has called the strike as it says plans to part-privatise the Tube will compromise safety.

Last-minute peace talks between the union and London Underground on Tuesday broke down after just two hours and no further meetings are planned.

The union said proposals made by LU to avert the industrial action were "completely inadequate".

Although drivers belonging to the Aslef union are not involved in the strike, it is thought some of them could refuse to cross picket lines.