Rail travellers throughout Sussex had a nightmare journey today as Connex South Central drivers refused to work overtime.

It meant delays and overcrowding as 387 trains in Sussex and Surrey were cancelled.

Many were late for work on the first day back after the holidays.

Angry bosses of the French-owned rail company described the action by drivers as illegal.

The drivers, mostly ASLEF members, are refusing to work shifts which take them over a 35-hour week. They currently work a

37- hour week.

One of the worst affected Sussex lines was at Uckfield, where trains were reduced to a two-hourly service instead of hourly.

Passengers on all Connex South Central services to and from Victoria and on coastal routes from Brighton were delayed.

Connex spokesman Dave Ewart said: "There will be cancellations throughout each day while this industrial action continues. There will be extensive disruptions.

"At the moment we are operating to timetable, with cancellations. All passengers will get to their destinations.

"Drivers are refusing to work shifts which take them over 35 hours a week. It has long been standard practice that drivers work shifts which take them over 35 hours.

"We are in the middle of negotiations with the main rail union ASLEF and we regard this action as illegal while negotiations are taking place."

John Richards, spokesman for the

drivers' union, said: "This is not industrial action.

"All that has

happened is that members are refusing to work shifts which take them over a 35 hour week.

"Our members, like passengers, are totally fed up and infuriated with a company that has an appalling record in staff and train management."

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