A bungling Tube train driver drove the wrong way along a tunnel and came to within just 20 metres of crashing into another train during rush hour.

The incident took place last June on the Northern Line near Camden Town, where the northbound line branches off towards Edgware and High Barnet. Both trains were filled with rush-hour commuters.

The driver, who was taking over from a colleague, got into the cab at the wrong end of the train, despite warnings from passengers, and began travelling back along the tunnel it had come from - which had a stop sign at its entrance.

He travelled 108 metres along the tunnel and only braked when he saw another train 20 metres away, according to the report by the Rail Accident Investigation Board (RAIB). He was later sacked.

Councillor Brian Coleman, who is also London Assembly member for Barnet and Camden, said: "This incident was down to the pure incompetence of London Underground which had not put the basic safety measures in place to prevent this happening.

"The RAIB has made a raft of recommendations which must be accepted."

London Underground will introduce better staff training in an effort to ensure similar incidents do not occur in the future.