A UNION has accused Transport for London (TfL) of risking passenger safety after dozens of passengers were forced to exit a Tube train in Leytonstone this morning.

Despite a London-wide strike by underground workers, a skeleton service is running on some parts of the Central Line.

Union the RMT claims that at 7am around 150 commuters were abruptly asked to leave a train at Leytonstone and were then made to climb over fences to exit the station.

But TfL claims around 40 people were involved and that they were not forced to climb fences.

However a spokeswoman did say passengers were not able to exit via the station's normal gates because they were locked.

She said they had to use a side-exit instead in order to get on a shuttle bus service.

But RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said: "The message to the Mayor and his transport officials this morning is clear - stop playing fast and loose with safety, stop the drive towards unstaffed stations, drop the threat of these lethal cuts and start meaningful talks on a safe and secure future for the London tube system,

"Our members have shown in their rock solid support for this action that they will not sit idly by while staffing levels are hacked to the bone and the management open the door to a major disaster."

Trains are reportedly running from Leytonstone now into London but with severe delays.

The strike began yesterday evening and normal services are not expected to resume until tomorrow.

Were you on the train and asked to get out at Leytonstone this morning? Contact reporter Daniel Binns on 0779 547 6625 or via email at dbinns@london.newsquest.co.uk

Click here to follow the Waltham Forest Guardian on Twitter