Transport for London (TfL) is telling commuters to walk instead of catching the Northern Line during rush hour.

A new pilot scheme will begin on Monday which will aim to tackle crowding in Tooting Bec, Balham, Clapham South, Clapham Common and Clapham North tube stations.

It comes after commuters struggle to get on the underground, with carriages filling up at South Wimbledon, Colliers Wood and Tooting Broadway between 8.30am-9am.

Information will be given to commuters on how slight changes can make their journey faster.

Advice such as leaving slightly earlier or later will be given out in tbe form of leaflets, displayed on whiteboards and station announcements.

Alternative travel options will be provided, such as walking and cycling routes.

The Travel Demand Management (TDM) project is aiming to adopt similar methods used during the Olympic Games to control overcrowding on the tube.

It forms part of a wider programme to encourage people to travel differently, with TfL planning to provide information on easier routes at London's busiest stations.

The Northern Line is also being updated with a new signalling system, which will allow a 20 per cent increase in capacity on the line.

Gareth Powell, director of strategy and service development, said: "During the 2012 Games many of our passengers made small changes to their journeys which meant we were able to carry record numbers without the transport network feeling any busier. 

"This section of the Northern line is exceptionally busy during part of the morning and while the modernisation of the line will help to relieve crowding when complete next year this trial will look at whether we can improve the situation now.

"By making a small change to the time they travel our passengers’ journeys could be faster and more comfortable."