British Airways today said it was considering a pay freeze for its 42,000 staff after reporting a £70m (€80m) loss in the first nine months of its financial year.

The leader of the UK train drivers’ union claimed today he had lost day-to-day control of his organisation because of a bitter power struggle with his executive.

A packed Tube train that derailed in central London, injuring 32 people, had been due to be taken out of service at the next station after a member of staff reported something might be wrong, London Underground said tonight.

London Underground was at a standstill today when a strike by rail workers over pay crippled services and caused travel chaos in the capital.