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Union leaders were accused today of ordering a cynical “Grinch strike” on the West End’s busiest Tube line to deliberately ruin the final shopping weekend before Christmas.

Furious store bosses fear that the stoppages called by the RMT train drivers’ union will cost them millions of pounds at the end of one of the toughest years for retailers in living memory.

Drivers will walk out from 8pm on Friday December 21 until 2am on Saturday December 22; then again two hours later from 4am until 8pm in protest over a train driver sacked for failing a drugs test.

The Central line driver was stopped for a random test at a depot in Leytonstone after clocking on for a morning shift. The test proved positive for cannabis, as did a second. He then asked for a third, independently paid-for test — which again proved positive. An appeal upheld the dismissal.

Tube Strike - In Pictures 15 show all Tube Strike - In Pictures 1/15 Bus queues Jeremy Selwyn 2/15 Packed GWR trains and District Line trains at Ealing Broadway this morning Jeremy Selwyn 3/15 Packed GWR trains and District Line trains at Ealing Broadway this morning Jeremy Selwyn 4/15 Platforms at Ealing Broadway this morning Jeremy Selwyn 5/15 Passengers study departure board at Ealing Broadway this morning Jeremy Selwyn 6/15 Very busy District Line trains at Ealing Broadway this morning Jeremy Selwyn 7/15 Very busy District Line trains at Ealing Broadway this morning Jeremy Selwyn 8/15 Shepherds Bush underground station this morning Jeremy Selwyn 9/15 Shepherds Bush underground station this morning Jeremy Selwyn 10/15 Passengers on crowded buses in Shepherds Bush Jeremy Selwyn 11/15 Passengers waiting for buses in Uxbridge Road Shepherds Bush Jeremy Selwyn 12/15 Central Line strike at Liverpool St Alex Lentati 13/15 Central Line strike at Liverpool St Alex Lentati 14/15 Central Line strike at Liverpool St Alex Lentati 15/15 Central Line strike at Liverpool St Alex Lentati 1/15 Bus queues Jeremy Selwyn 2/15 Packed GWR trains and District Line trains at Ealing Broadway this morning Jeremy Selwyn 3/15 Packed GWR trains and District Line trains at Ealing Broadway this morning Jeremy Selwyn 4/15 Platforms at Ealing Broadway this morning Jeremy Selwyn 5/15 Passengers study departure board at Ealing Broadway this morning Jeremy Selwyn 6/15 Very busy District Line trains at Ealing Broadway this morning Jeremy Selwyn 7/15 Very busy District Line trains at Ealing Broadway this morning Jeremy Selwyn 8/15 Shepherds Bush underground station this morning Jeremy Selwyn 9/15 Shepherds Bush underground station this morning Jeremy Selwyn 10/15 Passengers on crowded buses in Shepherds Bush Jeremy Selwyn 11/15 Passengers waiting for buses in Uxbridge Road Shepherds Bush Jeremy Selwyn 12/15 Central Line strike at Liverpool St Alex Lentati 13/15 Central Line strike at Liverpool St Alex Lentati 14/15 Central Line strike at Liverpool St Alex Lentati 15/15 Central Line strike at Liverpool St Alex Lentati

Tube chiefs do not expect to run any services on the line during the strike. The service runs the length of Oxford Street, from Marble Arch to Tottenham Court Road. The Friday Night Tube will also be hit.

Business leaders described the action as the “Nightmare before Christmas”. Referring to the Dr Seuss character who “stole Christmas”, shopper Andy Brown, 53, said: “Striking just further alienates people. It’s Grinch-like. Everyone wants to be out shopping or enjoying London.” West End stores would normally hope to take about £40 million on the last Saturday before Christmas.

Sean McKee, the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s director of policy, said: “This has to be seen as a deliberate and cynical move by the RMT to cause maximum disruption over one of the busiest weekends of the year.”

David Leam, of the London First business campaign group, added: “These strikes will sever the artery that runs through the West End during one of the busiest times of the year, causing mayhem for commuters, last-minute shoppers and tourists.”

Henry Gregg, director of external affairs at the New West End Company, said: “It’s been a tough year, and the week before Christmas will be crucial for turning that around. Any disruption will have a negative impact.”

Simon Thomas, chief executive of the Hippodrome casino on Leicester Square, said: “This is cynical decision that hurts London. This city supports the tube infrastructure through its loyal use. Day in, day out. To remove that service at such a critical trading period - when the high street is endeavouring to attract more people - is short-sighted and ill-judged.”

Keith Prince, Tory group transport spokesman at the Greater London Assembly, called on Mayor Sadiq Khan to intervene and stop the strike.

The RMT said the strike is over issues including “a comprehensive breakdown in industrial relations, a failure to employ enough drivers, a wholesale abuse of agreed procedures and the victimisation of a trade union member”. Tube bosses are taking a hard line and insist the driver will not be reinstated.

Thousands of South Western Rail passengers face further disruption to and from Waterloo station tomorrow in the last of the current round of eight 24-hour strikes by RMT train guards fighting changes to their role. SWR will cancel 750 trains, half of services.