Striking London Underground workers will down tools at 21:00 today and not return to their posts until Wednesday evening, failing a breakthrough in talks with Tube bosses.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union are protesting over the planned closure of ticket offices across the network.

Transport experts said the disruption and delays could begin before the planned strike time and continue for hours after normal service is meant to resume.

The RMT says ticket office closures could lead to the loss of nearly 1,000 jobs, although London Underground argue many people would be reassigned to new posts.

Mick Cash, RMT acting general secretary, said: "This dispute is solely about cash-led cuts to jobs and services that would decimate Tube safety."

Mike Brown, managing director of LU, said: "What I really want is constructive, alternative, positive proposals from the RMT, not just saying 'no' to everything we offer.”