A 40-year-old man has been jailed for stabbing a Tube worker at Lancaster Gate London Underground station.

Ansar Mahmood, of no fixed address, was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to wounding with intent in the attack that happened in January.

Blackfriars Crown Court was told the member of staff was stood in the station’s booking hall near the ticket barrier.

Mahmood raised his arm to call the Tube worker over for help, but then hit him on the head with a weapon causing a cut to his head and left eye.

Other passengers were nearby to witness the morning attack.

Nick Brown, London Underground’s chief operating officer, said: “This was a horrible, unprovoked attack towards our customer service assistant who was just doing his job.

“Our staff should be allowed to carry out their daily work duties without fear of attack from the public."

British Transport Police said Mahmood must spend four years on licence after his jail term.

He was also given a nine-month concurrent sentence for possessing a weapon.