No anthrax threat from Tube station work

Building materials sent for testing after work at a Tube station did not contain any trace of anthrax, it was announced today.

The Rail Maritime and Transport union had raised safety concerns and called for the station at Hammersmith in west London to be closed while investigations continued.

Transport for London said: "Having sent some very old horse hair building materials from Hammersmith station off for testing, we have this morning been advised that no traces of anthrax have been found.

"This procedure is standard industry practice and is a requirement of building regulations. The station remains open and suggestions that this site presented a risk to customers or staff was nothing more than scaremongering."

The union said it had only been seeking reassurances that building work on a bar at the Hammersmith & City Line station did not pose a threat to passengers or staff.