ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

Central line commuters have complained of being stuck in swelteringly hot tunnels as the line went into meltdown on the hottest day of the year so far .

The line, recently revealed as the hottest on the London Underground , was hit with severe rush-hour disruption sparked by a faulty train.

There was no service between Liverpool Street and Leytonstone for a short period, with passengers advised that tickets would be accepted on buses and TfL rail services.

But Londoners said they were stuck on hot trains in tunnels for up to half an hour, while other trains were continually too busy to board.

One passenger, Dan G, wrote on Twitter: “Having been sat in a tunnel for half an hour on the @centralline, now been sat at Loughton for 10 minutes. Taken me nearly an hour and a half to get home and still not at Epping yet.”

Another wrote: “Stuck 20 mins in a tunnel, destination changed and now can't get on another train at Leytonstone as too busy. Shambolic.”

Rob Kober added: “On the plus side, getting stuck between stations for 20 minutes in this heat just won me a wet shirt competition.”

The Central line’s Twitter account said service resumed with “severe delays” soon after 6pm, later downgrading the disruption to “minor”.

Soaring temperatures also sparked rush hour “meltdown” at London's busiest station.

Passengers from Waterloo faced major disruption as lower speed limits were put in place after temperatures soared to 29C on Monday.