Night Tube set to start in August

Trains could be rumbling through subterranean London on a 24-hour basis as soon as August, with reports on Monday of plans to introduce night running on the Underground this summer.

The capital's long-awaited Night Tube was originally slated to begin last September, but had been delayed by lengthy union negotiations and a number of driver strikes.

A pay deal was finally reached between London Underground and members of the Aslef and RMT unions this month.

No date had been officially set by local government body Transport for London, though the Press Association cited a source as saying the plans were now firmly in place.

The Transport Salaried Staffs Association and Unite were yet to accept the offer, though it was understood that was not necessary for TfL to go ahead.

In August, passengers will be able to travel through Friday and Saturday night on the Victoria and Jubilee lines - the network's newest - with the Central, Northern and Picadilly lines coming on board in September.

Part-time drivers were being trained to allow the service to go ahead.