Tube trains damaged by brackets

The accident was blamed on brackets which hold pipes to the wall

Some rush hour Tube trains were taken out of service after hitting metal brackets sticking out of a tunnel wall.

Windows on three trains travelling between Farringdon and Barbican stations were smashed in the incident.

It was reported that brackets had been left loose after overnight engineering work in the tunnel.

Services on the Circle, Metropolitan, and Hammersmith and City lines were suspended between 0800 GMT and 0915 GMT while work was carried out.

No-one was reported to have been injured.

A statement from London Underground (LU) said: "Three trains were taken out of service after apparently unsecured brackets on tunnel walls caused some slight damage.

"We are currently investigating the cause of the problem."

Bobby Law, London regional organiser of the Rail Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said the incident was another example of the "dangers" of the controversial public private partnership and its "complex web" of sub-contractors.

He said: "It also demonstrates the failure of the safety system to deal with the contractor."