LONDON'S 'Night Tube' services will not return until next year, it has been announced.

The 24-hour service which runs on Friday and Saturday nights, helps connect Ealing to central London but will not return before the end of the year at the earliest, according to the Evening Standard.

Transport Commissioner, Andy Byford, told the Standard that the overnight services will be the last to return to normal after the pandemic.

He said: "We need the personnel to keep the day services going and frankly there isn't the demand for it, so there are no immediate plans to restore the 'Night Tube' within a year and certainly not before 2022.

"Securing the whole network is more important than keeping the 'Night Tube' going."

That means that stations such as Ealing Broadway, West Acton and North Acton on the Central line, along with Northfields, South Ealing and Acton Town on the Piccadilly line will not run their weekend night services.

This is a major blow to restaurants, bars and night clubs hoping to rebuild their businesses following the economic devastation caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Michael Kill, Chief Executive of the Night Time Industries Association, said the decision was 'an absolute travesty.'

Simon Thomas, Chief Executive of the Hippodrome casino in Leicester Square, said: "It's complete nonsense.

"The 'Night Tube' was brought in to support the progressive 24-hour ambitions of London and it's more essential now than ever before.

"Stop putting hurdles in the way of a true West End recovery and face facts.

"We need a reliable transport infrastructure that serves all audiences.

"People want to experience everything London has to offer and support the recovery of thousands of night time businesses.

"So let them do this."