South West Trains cancelled all its services out of Brighton today as guards staged a 24-hour walkout.

The dispute is over worsening industrial relations between the company and the guards, including a dispute over the wearing of bright red waistcoats and name badges.

The company runs most of its services out of Waterloo through Surrey to Hampshire.

There are six South West Trains a day between Brighton and Reading, stopping at stations in West Sussex.

All were cancelled today as South West Trains operated an emergency timetable on its main routes.

A spokesman for the rail company said it could not guarantee any of its timetabled services, including its emergency timetable.

Sussex passengers wanting to use South West trains were advised to use alternative trains run by Connex South Central and Virgin, not affected by strike action.

The walkout by the guards is supported by their union, the Royal Maritime and Transport.

A proposed deal to end the long-running dispute was rejected yesterday by the union's executive.

Further stoppages planned for later this month are expected to go ahead.