An extra two million people will use buses

The 24-hour walkout over pay began at 1830 BST on Tuesday despite last-minute contact between the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union and management.

Transport for London said 30% of trains were running and every available bus - an extra 1,000 - had been "scrambled".

But the RMT said managers were exaggerating the number of services and said the Tube had been "crippled".

London Underground (LU) says there is a very limited service, between restricted stations, but no services on the Circle Line.

TRAVEL ADVICE Allow extra time for journeys and try to travel outside rush hours Consider walking No additional parking and the �5 congestion charge still applies A free river service will run during rush hours BBC London latest travel advice Have Your Say

Buses, trams and the Docklands Light Railway are running as usual and river services are free during rush hour.

It is thought seven million people will have used buses on Wednesday, one million more than usual and the highest total for 50 years.

Although the strike finishes at 1830 BST, Tube services are not expected to be back to normal until 0500 BST on Thursday.

The union said the walkout, in a row over pay and conditions, had been "solidly supported" by thousands of drivers, signallers and maintenance staff.

COMMUTER MISERY Anger as workers battle to get across the capital In pictures

Picket lines were in place outside Tube stations across London.

Strikers outside a station in Leytonstone, east London, unfurled a banner which read: "Eleventh commandment - thou shalt not cross a picket line".

It follows comments by London mayor Ken Livingstone that he would have gone to work today if he had been in the RMT.

Mr Livingstone had to walk to his office near Tower Bridge because of the strike.

But many people decided to drive despite being urged to leave their cars at home.

TUBE PAY RATES Train driver: �32,656 Train inspector �34,075 Station assistants: �19,776 Station supervisor: �35,560 Signallers: �24,042

The AA said roads into London were noticeably busier than normal.

The strike went ahead after last-minute talks failed to break the deadlock.

LU's chief operating officer Mike Brown said the deal would give workers a pay rise of 3.5% over the next year and guaranteed to reduce the working week by two-and-a-half hours by 2006.

But the union has said the deal has unacceptable "strings" attached and claims 800 job could be lost.

Mr Livingstone said 200 jobs would go under the deal and he turned down union demands for a four-day week, claiming it would lead to higher Tube fares.

London Transport Commissioner Bob Kiley said there had been no need for the strike and he urged Tube staff to return to work adding that he did not believe there was any point in addressing the leadership of the union.

Buses and trains were packed

Bob Crow, the union's general secretary, again called on Mr Livingstone to become personally involved in the dispute.

"We need someone with the authority and the inclination to hammer out a deal," he said.

"Instead, we continue to bang our heads against a brick wall with a management that Mr Livingstone once dismissed as dullards and knuckleheads."

Mr Crow added that he could not rule out further strikes and union leaders are expected to meet in the next few days to decide their next move.

Maurice Fitzpatrick, head of economics at business group Numerica, said the strike would cost the London economy �100m in lost fares and lost productivity.