Tube maintenance workers the latest to walk out

Commuters in the capital were set for another round of misery, with the announcement on Friday of a series of strikes by London Underground maintenance workers.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) issued a release, saying its members would initially walk out for 24 hours on 12 February.

RMT said around 1,500 staff were involved, over a disagreement around what the union termed "basic safety issues".

2016 was shaping up to be a big year for strikes on the rapid transit system - vital to the capital's economic health - with six strikes planned up to June.

The first was due to come up this weekend, with station staff aligned with RMT planning to walk out for 48 hours from 2100 GMT on 6 February, in a dispute over rosters and pay, though it had since been called off

Transport for London had warned commuters that, while trains would run, some stations would not open or have reduced hours on Sunday and Monday. The local government body said it had no way of predicting staffing levels during the strike, as it did not know how many non-RMT workers would refuse to cross the picket line.

The union called off the strike late on Friday, however, after last-minute talks.

This article was updated at 1455 GMT as the weekend station staff strike was called off.