RAIL strikes on First Great Western trains caused delays and disruption for passengers travelling to London from Oxford yesterday.

The industrial action began after 11th-hour crisis talks between rail bosses and union RMT broke down on Wednesday.

FGW said a reduced number of trains for rail passengers travelling from Oxford to London Paddington will operate, but with delays and cancellations to be expected over the strike period.

Oxford author and screenwriter Richard O Smith had to tell organisers at the Penzance Literary Festival in Cornwall to cancel his three-hour workshop on comedy and his talk about the first Englishman to fly.

Mr Smith said: “I planned to get the sleeper train to Cornwall.

“Because of the strike it means that I cannot go now. I got a call from FGW telling me it was cancelled and when I tried to get a different sleeper train last night I was told that was cancelled too.

“The strike has caused a big problem for the organisers at the festival.”

The strike also affected those looking forward to heading to Cornbury Festival at Great Tew Park. FGW said there would be a limited service from Oxford to Paddington and Worcester to Charlbury to meet connecting transport today.

The 48-hour strike is due to end at 6.29pm today.