Bomb warning over phones on Tube

Bombs in Madrid and Bali were detonated using mobile phones

Simon Hughes has asked London Underground (LU) to reassess plans to install mobile phone access in light of the Madrid bombings.

The train bombs in the Spanish capital were detonated by mobiles and the Lib Dem London mayoral candidate says it could be used on the Tube.

LU has said it will put in systems to allow mobile phone use by 2005.

Mr Hughes said the suggestion was made to LU on Thursday and the response so far had been "positive".

He is also calling for a volunteer reserve force to assist the emergency services in case of attack.

Mr Hughes told the Liberal Democrat Party Conference in Southport on Friday: "The murder of more than 200 hundred innocent train passengers in Madrid shows there are still people prepared to kill anytime, in any place and anywhere.

Disaster information

"Transport for London and the mayor must reassess their plans to make mobile phones work on deep-line tunnels in the Tube.

"Mobile phones are now a cheap and effective long-range detonator for terror groups across the world.

"Texting is a luxury, security is not."

The MP for North Southwark and Bermondsey will also be setting out why he wants to merge British Transport Police in London with the Metropolitan Police.

He says police would provide the city with greater protection from terrorism on London's transport network through better co-ordination.

Mr Hughes also wants disaster information to be included with all Council Tax bills to alert people to what to do in the event of an attack.

Currently only flood defence information is included on the bills.

Mr Hughes will stading against Labour's current mayor Ken Livingstone, Tory Steven Norris, and the Green Party's Darren Johnson at the London mayoral elections on 10 June.