Commuters could be at risk of hearing loss and tinnitus from riding the London Underground, a new investigation has shown.

University College London (UCL) and the BBC recorded noise on the tube for one week and found that ambient sound on some lines approaches the level of a chainsaw.

On average the Victoria Line was the noisiest while parts of the Northern and Jubilee lines are so loud they would require hearing protection if they were workplaces.

Although Transport for London said the noise was ‘highly unlikely’ to cause long term damage to hearing, experts at UCL said it could be harmful for people with lengthy daily commutes.