Passengers delivered a damning verdict yesterday on self-styled "bungling" Mayor Boris Johnson's plans to axe ticket counters across the London Undergound network.

The mayor is backing a massive closure plan on the world's oldest underground railway that will see staff purged from booking offices - after vowing not to do so during his 2008 election campaign.

Research by Tube union RMT revealed that 70 per cent of travellers oppose the plans.

And a whopping four out of five tourists feared the prospect of navigating the tortuous ticket system in London without booking office staff.

Hundreds of stations face reduced-hours operation or a total cull under "austerity" plans drawn up by the £143,900-a-year part-time mayor, whose main job penning a Daily Telegraph column pays out £5,000 a week.

Commuters on the network told the Morning Star yesterday that they were fed up with fares rises and feared for their safety if ticket offices were stripped of staff.

"Half the time after a
certain point there's no-one staffing my local station. I dread to think what would happen if there was an accident or fire," said Finchley electrician Arie Natelson.

"The price rises are terrible too, my wages haven't gone up but the fares have gone through the roof."

RMT general secretary Bob Crow also revealed that more than half of those who voted for Mr Johnson would be less likely to do so in future if he pushes on with the cuts.

"Not only are London transport users overwhelmingly opposed to ticket office closures but they will also take action against elected officials like Mayor Boris Johnson who at election time promise to keep ticket offices open but then sharpen up the axe once they are in power," said Mr Crow.

When campaigning to oust Labour's Ken Livingstone in 2008, the slippery Mr Johnson's transport manifesto declared: "Manned ticket offices provide a reassuring, visible presence. They can act as a first point of call in times of emergency or help.

"There is little financial, strategic or common sense in these closures. We will halt all such ticket office closures immediately."

The Greater London Authority transport committee will look at the impact of the plans today.