Shocking treatment of London Bridge train station staff has been revealed, with workers being threatened, spat at and having hot coffee thrown over them by angry passengers.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union has written to train companies Southern, Southeastern and Thameslink, as well as Network Rail, demanding urgent action over assaults and abuse of staff caught in the crossfire of the continuing chaos at London Bridge.

The union said passengers had taken their anger out on workers at London Bridge over the past week during disruption caused by major engineering works.

Passengers jumped over barriers last week because of serious overcrowding and there were fresh problems yesterday because of a broken-down freight train.

The RMT also claimed concerns from signalling staff about the operational plans were ignored and that staff and union input into the process was "woeful".

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "Our members at London Bridge are furious that they are taking the full force of the anger of passengers while those responsible are tucked up snug and warm in their offices.

"It is disgusting that staff charged with crowd control are being threatened, spat on and assaulted with hot coffee.

"We want measures put in place immediately to protect our members from this threatening and abusive behaviour.

"RMT is also angry that concerns voiced by staff who foresaw the problems at the station were ignored. There was a woeful lack of meaningful consultation and we are paying a heavy price for that now. That is a reflection of the fragmentation unleashed on our railways by privatisation.

"All it would take in the crushing we saw last week is for one person to lose their footing and the threat to life and limb is only too obvious.

"RMT is demanding action, not excuses and the usual pathetic buck-passing by the myriad of companies and contractors involved."

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The union said in its letter: "The current situation must not be allowed to continue and RMT is demanding that preventative measures are put in place without delay.

"This must be in the form of increased staffing, increased management and all necessary support from the police."

A Network Rail spokesman said: "Network Rail and the train companies last night had a very high-level meeting on site at London Bridge, looking at what further improvements can be made to look after and talk to passengers more clearly and effectively, especially at times of disruption.

"The safety of passengers will never be compromised and they, and station staff, have been fantastic at managing and enduring some very uncomfortable situations as the transformation of this vital station continues."