Tube rises to the occasion

A record one million passengers used London Underground in an hour at the height of the Golden Jubilee celebrations.

The Tube's busiest 60-minute period began at midnight on Monday shortly after the Buckingham Palace fireworks ended.

Huge queues gathered outside all the main central London Tube stations. Passengers were helped by 2,500 staff including an extra 800 on duty for the occasion.

At most stations the automatic ticket gates were switched off to allow quick access to platforms. Trains were packed but crowds were good-natured, if a little tired. Mike Brown, LU's director of passenger services, said: "It was our busiest hour ever."

For only the third time in its history - the others being the Millennium celebrations and the coronation of King George VI in 1937 - the Tube ran all night on Monday. Although more people packed into London on Millennium night, this time the crowds travelling home were far more concentrated.

It all went so smoothly that LU plans more 24-hour services. "I would not rule it out for big events," said Mr Brown.

On the roads, the getaway was remarkably smooth as people heeded advice and used public transport rather than their cars.

The most congested areas yesterday were Marylebone Road, Victoria Street and Vauxhall Bridge. Minor congestion began at around 1pm, with delays getting longer late in the afternoon.

Motorists experienced 30-minute tailbacks when the traffic was at its worst - between 4pm and 7pm - with delays entering and leaving the City. But the traffic eased considerably after 7pm. Major motorways leading to London were relatively clear. A spokesman for AA Roadwatch said: "It has not been as bad as we had been expecting-The vast majority of people left their cars at home."

Today an army of cleaners descended on The Mall for the big clear-up. Piles of rubbish, some 6ft high, were dotted across St James's and Green Parks while boxes, empty champagne bottles and miniature Union Flags littered the royal thoroughfare.

An estimated 200 tons of rubbish were left behind and almost 100 refuse collectors were up early to clear the route for the Changing of the Guard at

11.30am. More cleaners were being recruited by the Royal Parks in an attempt to clear all the rubbish by the end of the day.

The last partygoer to leave was Alan MacDonald, 34, a decorator from Glasgow, who pitched a tent in Green Park on Friday night and stayed for the whole four-day event.

He was planning to return home last night but his wallet containing his return ticket was stolen so he decided to stay another night. Despite his misfortune he said he wouldn't have missed the event for the world. Packing his belongings on to a pushchair, he said: "It was amazing the way everyone was standing arm-in-arm."

The Mall remained closed today but a Royal Parks spokesman said it should be open in time for tomorrow morning's rush hour.

Madonna was given a lift home in a police van from Wyndhams Theatre, where she is appearing in Up For Grabs, on Monday night because it was feared she could be mobbed if spotted. A police source said: "Sometimes the police are just nice like that, but we do have powers to facilitate the movement of vulnerable individuals."

Tube rises to the occasion
World celebrates with Britain
Comment: A weekend to remember
Send in your Jubilee photos
"My Top Fifty Jubilee memories"
GALLERY: The Jubilee weekend in pictures