People rush into a department store as it opens for Boxing Day sales in central London, Monday, Dec. 26, 2011. Despite disruptions caused by London's subway drivers striking over a pay dispute, large crowds of shoppers started flooding department stores in London as soon as doors opened early Monday. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
People rush into a department store as it opens for Boxing Day sales in central London, Monday, Dec. 26, 2011. Despite disruptions caused by London's subway drivers striking over a pay dispute, large crowds of shoppers started flooding department stores in London as soon as doors opened early Monday. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
People crowd into a department store as it opens for Boxing Day sales in central London, Monday, Dec. 26, 2011. Despite disruptions caused by London's subway drivers striking over a pay dispute, large crowds of shoppers started flooding department stores in London as soon as doors opened early Monday. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
People queue early in the morning outside a department store ahead of it opening for Boxing Day sales in central London, Monday, Dec. 26, 2011. Despite disruptions caused by London's subway drivers striking over a pay dispute, large crowds of shoppers started flooding department stores in London as soon as doors opened early Monday. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
People rush into a department store as it opens for Boxing Day sales in central London, Monday, Dec. 26, 2011. Despite disruptions caused by London's subway drivers striking over a pay dispute, large crowds of shoppers started flooding department stores in London as soon as doors opened early Monday. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
Underground trains are parked during a 24-hour strike by train drivers over public holiday pay, at Mordern depot, south London, Monday, Dec. 26, 2011. (AP Photo/Sang Tan)
LONDON (AP) ? London's subway drivers walked out over a pay dispute Monday, causing trouble for thousands of shoppers out to take advantage of traditional Boxing Day sales.
Transport for London warned that shoppers seeking bargains in the capital's shopping centers face "significant disruption." Several subway lines have been suspended, and limited services are operating on the rest of the network.
The ASLEF union is staging the one-day strike to demand extra pay as well as a day off for members working on the public holiday.
The London Underground ? the organization that manages the subway system ? condemned the move, saying it was pointless and demonstrated "a complete disregard for our customers." Authorities said extra buses are running in the main shopping areas to cater to the increased flow of travelers on one of the year's busiest shopping days.
Despite the disruptions, large crowds of shoppers ? some lining up from midnight ? started flooding department stores in London and other British cities as soon as doors opened early Monday.
Selfridges, one of Britain's most popular department stores, reported its biggest ever first hour of trading Monday morning.
In northwest London, the Brent Cross shopping center said that 10,000 people had piled through its doors within an hour of opening.
The ASLEF union plans to stage three more strikes in January and February if the dispute is not resolved.
Associated Pressglen campbell matt nathanson matt nathanson rick perry oops rick perry oops tom bradley penn state tom bradley penn state
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