RMT 'warned TfL chiefs of Tube overcrowding' before woman was dragged under Clapham South train

"Lethal" overcrowding in London Underground stations was brought to the attention of Tube bosses before a woman was dragged under a train, the RMT union has said.

The Railway, Maritine and Transport Union said it issued warnings to Tube chiefs about the Underground's "death trap" potential previous to the incident where a woman suffered "non life-threatening" injuries on 12 March.

"The terrifying incident at Clapham South added to major issues at Brixton and Oxford Circus last week and the chaos at London Bridge," RMT general secretary Mick Cash said.

Recent scenes of drastic overcrowding at busy Tube stations during rush hour have highlighted a problem Cash called "critical".

He said: "Our members know where the death traps are and where the pressures are building up and we are demanding a top-level safety summit to allow us to get our safety fears addressed and dealt with, and that also means an immediate halt to the job cuts."

Responding to criticism, Transport for London said overcrowding was not the cause of the incident at Clapham South.

The woman was dragged beneath a Tube at the south London station after her dress and coat became trapped in the door of the train that was departing the platform. She reportedly suffered a black eye and a broken arm in the horrifying incident.

London Underground operations director Nigel Holness denied being lax on passenger safety. He said: "We are not complacent, we will look at this, we will learn the lessons and see what else we might need to do."