5,000 bus drivers have carried out their threat and gone on strike across the city this morning.

Workers walked out of bus garages at 3am this morning in the row over pay hitting 160 routes mainly across north-east and west London.

Angry scenes - Metroline win court case

There were angry scenes as huge queues formed at bus stops, people are standing on the top deck and commuters are seeing bus after bus packed to the rafters passing them out.

5,000 Metroline and First drivers failed to turn up for work this morning, trade union Unite claim the strike is solid.

Metroline had won a court case preventing it's drivers from striking legally - but Transport for London say those 60 routes may be hit. 

Pay parity row

Union members are seeking a £30,000 pay parity for all bus drivers across the network which is operated by 18 separate private companies.

Speaking to the BBC Unite officer Peter Kavanagh said yearly pay in the capital's 18 bus companies varied by up to £6,000.

"There is a startling disparity between bus drivers' pay in the capital, with rosters in some companies seeing many drivers complete nearly 60 hours a week."

Unions 'dragging'

Adrian Jones, managing director of First claimed the union is intent on dragging further bus companies into strikes and its drivers were among the best-paid bus workers in London - noting that between 2003 and 2007, First's bus drivers' pay increased by 34%.

2,500 First group drivers walked out in late August over the same pay dispute - it is also identical to the RMT's dispute with Tube Lines during the summer, who wanted parity with publicly owned Metronet. Another strike, a 48 hour stoppage, is scheduled for Friday 12th September.

3.5% rejected - 38 hr week demanded

Member’s resoundly rejected a 3.5% pay increase during the summer and insist on a flat annual rate of £30,000 with a 38hr week. Conditions such as sick pay, holidays and pensions are also disputed - they claim there is a £6,000 pay difference across the network for effectively the same job.

First Capital and Centrewest London Buses, which operate under First London will be effected at first with other operators balloted soon.

Transport for London is again powerless to intervene in an industrial dispute that could cripple the city, despite regulating the industry. First London spokesman Adrian Jones called the union’s action "unrealistic."

Check below to see if your route is effected:

First group routes

East London: 58, 67, 91, 150, 165, 179, 191, 193, 212, 215, 231, 236, 252, 259, 299, 308, 309, 323, 339, 341, 357, 365, 370, 385, 389, 399, 476, 488, 498, 616, 646, 649, 650, 652, 656, 679, 686, 692, 699, D6, D7, D8, RV1, W6, W10, W11 and W12.  Night route: N91

West London: 9 (Heritage route only), 10, 18, 23, 28, 31, 79, 83, 92, 95, 105, 187, 207, 223, 224, 226, 245, 282, 295, 328, 331, 414, 427, 487, 607, A10, E1, E3, E5, E7, E9, E10, PR2, U1, U2, U3, U4, U5 and U10. Night routes: N10, N18, N28, N31 and N207

Metroline routes:

North London: 4, 17, 32, 43, 46, 52, 82, 84, 98, 107, 113, 134, 139, 140, 182, 186, 189, 204, 206, 209, 214, 217, 232, 240, 251, 260, 263, 266, 271, 274, 302, 316, 332, 383, 384, 390, 603, 605, 609, 626, 632, 640, 643, C2, and H12. Night routes: N5, N16, N20, N52 and N98.

West London: 6, 7, 16, 70, 90, 143, 205, 210, 234, 297, 326, 460, 611, C11, E6, W5, W7, W8 and W9. Night route: N7