Commuters will be left without a train service for two days next month after under-fire unions heaped more misery on passengers by agreeing further strike action.

No trains ran through Wandsworth yesterday (Tuesday, August 29) and the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF) will strike again next Friday and three days later on the Monday.

The news has angered commuters already seething at the unions' disruptive strikes earlier this year.

Property consultant Nicole Moon, 22, from Oakmead Road, Balham, said: "I think they are an absolute disgrace. I use the train to get to work in Richmond.

"They seem to strike over absolutely nothing."

ASLEF is calling for all its 900 workers on South West Trains (SWT) to strike. ASLEF is angry that SWT used managers to cover for train drivers picketing during strike action earlier this summer. The strike in early summer had started over a dispute on paying for train drivers cab fares.

All Wandsworth stations - Clapham Junction, Balham, Battersea - will see no South West Trains running during the two strike days.

The company has recommended avoiding all the stations during strike action.

Putney MP Justine Greening said: "I think it is unaccptable that commuters going about theie business have to suffer. It is inexcusable."

SWT operations director James Burt said: "The unions are now asking us to promise never again to use driver managers to drive trains during a strike, something we can never agree to. I am sorry for the disruption this unnecessary action will cause you."

ASLEF held a ballot of all its members in SWT which overwhelmingly supported the industrial action.

Keith Norman, the union's general secretary, said it was astonishing that since he had informed the company of the intention to strike, SWT had only approached the union at national level to make legal threats - and not to seek discussions aimed at reaching an agreement.

Mr Norman said: I believe the company is using its passengers to try to score points over the union.

I am only sorry the public will suffer, rather than this appalling management.'