Croydon tram drivers will strike over a proposed measure to increase safety a little more than a year after the Tramlink crash which killed seven and injured 51,

Members of Aslef on the network in Croydon will walk out for 24 hours on November 13 and December 6.

They are complaining about an infra-red beam installed in tram cabs which they say shines constantly on drivers' faces.

The first of the strikes will take place four days after the first anniversary of the Croydon Tramlink crash which killed seven and injured 51.

Aslef official Finn Brennan said the device was causing numerous health and safety concerns.

"Drivers have reported symptoms from headaches and dry eyes to blurred vision and potentially serious eye damage as a result of exposure to this device," he said.

"Aslef wants to see a modern automatic tram protection system installed that would stop a vehicle if it was speeding or if the driver became incapacitated.

"This system does neither. Instead of making the tram network safer it puts the health of drivers at risk and does nothing to prevent accidents in the future."

Mr Brennan said only an automatic tram protection system could have prevented an accident like the one last year.

"We want the introduction of this system halted until all the safety concerns of our members have been addressed," he added.

A Transport for London spokesman said: "We urge the union to call off this action and continue to work with First Group, the operator of London trams, on making the network safer for everyone."

A spokesman for TfL said: "Work to install a system to automatically reduce tram speeds if required was called for by Aslef and is under way.

"The system takes longer to procure and install and the safety device in place to alert to fatigue and distraction helps to make trams safer now."