Ticket offices across the region are among 256 set to close in the new year.

Transport for London (TfL) today announced Chigwell, Roding Valley and Theydon Bois as three of the first six stations to stop providing a counter service.

Almost 900 jobs will be lost as part of the shake-up in February, a year after the proposal to do so sparked a series of strikes.

Ticket offices at Buckhurst Hill, Debden, Loughton, Epping, Leyton, Leytonstone, Snaresbrook, South Woodford and Woodford stations will also close by 2016.

TfL says platforms will remained staffed while services are running.

Around 150 new ticket machines will also be introduced across the network, and all machines will be modernised to issue new Oyster cards, provide small refunds and deal with journey discrepancies.

Managing director of London Underground, Mike Brown, said: “A year ago the Mayor and I set out our vision for a Tube network and service that is truly fit for London and our customers in the 21st century.

“I have made a commitment that all stations will remain staffed at all times and there will be more of our people visible and available to assist our customers in ticket halls, with record numbers of staff on our platforms.

“The whole Underground team has made great strides towards achieving this, and over the next year the pace of delivery and improvement will accelerate still further."