Strike action brought the entire tube network grinding to a halt yesterday.

Business chiefs slammed the mayor, Ken Livingstone, after he failed to condemn the action - which could have cost business as much as £60 million.

Londoners are preparing for a repeat performance of the transport shutdown next week as the pay deadlock continues.

The train drivers' union, Aslef, has indicated that more strikes will occur on the London Underground if managers refuse to take the pay dispute to mediation.