London Underground bosses have made a last minute plea for tube workers to call off their planned strike action for later today. Transport chiefs are asking members of unions RMT and TSSA to bring a halt to the proposed industrial action and return to tal

London Underground bosses have made a last minute plea for tube workers to call off their planned strike action for later today.

Transport chiefs are asking members of unions RMT and TSSA to bring a halt to the proposed industrial action and return to talks.

London underground is blaming the two unions for a breakdown in talks last week because of their 'unreasonable preconditions'.

The strike is part of a protest against plans to cut 800 ticket office jobs at stations including Hampstead, but London underground say there will no compulsory redundancies.

Howard Collins, London Underground's Chief Operating Officer, said: "Londoners will no doubt find it incredible that, despite being given a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies, the RMT and TSSA leaderships are still threatening to strike."

Commuters across London are preparing to make alternative travel plans if industrial action by tube workers goes ahead.

Around 10,000 workers are due to go on strike leaving London's Underground network paralysed.

Maintenance and engineering staff are set to stage a 24-hour walk out at 5pm today with tube drivers, signallers and station staff intending to quit working at 9pm.

Those who work at Alstom-Metro depots on the Jubilee and Northern Lines are also striking in protest over pay and conditions.

Transport for London are encouraging everyone to get on their bikes and will run a series of escorted bike rides across the capital, one of which will run from Swiss Cottage to Moorgate on Tuesday.

Cyclists can meet at 7.45am at the corner of Adamson Road and Eton Road before the group departs for the city at 8am. London Overground services will be running as normal.

Transport Commissioner Peter Hendy said: "We urge everyone travelling in and around London during the strike to check before you travel and to consider the wide range of alternative travel options by going to www.tfl.gov.uk as well as staggering your normal journeys where possible.