Weekend Tube strike called off, but possible disruption in new year

A planned strike on one of the busiest London Underground lines which would have caused misery for Christmas shoppers this weekend has been called off.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union on the Central Line were due to walk out for six hours from 8am on Friday evening and again for most of Saturday.

The union announced it was suspending the strikes following two days of talks at the conciliation service Acas.

The RMT accused LU of 10 months of "mismanagement" that had led to a deterioration in industrial relations.

The strike was called following the sacking of a worker who failed a random drugs test, as well as a breakdown in industrial relations.

The union warned that if further substantial progress is not made in a number of areas, there will be industrial action in the new year.