Trade union Unite condemned a Transport for London (TfL) package it says will close the Woolwich Free Ferry.

Unite believes the proposed Silvertown Tunnel, which could be operational from 2021, threatens the service, which dates back to the 1300s.

Regional officer Onay Kasab said he was proud of the 26 Unite members working as crew, electricians and road traffic teams on the service that carries more than 3,000 vehicles and 5,000 passengers a day across the Thames.

“The Woolwich Free Ferry is not just a historic tradition – it is, in fact, a vital part of today’s capital transport infrastructure,” he said. “A free ferry is something that is worth campaigning to save and now we must all join together to fight to preserve it.”

Unite also fears crossings being proposed further east that could be operational from 2025.

But TfL’s managing director for planning, Richard de Cani, says no decision has been made on the ferry’s future.

“The future of the Woolwich Ferry is being reviewed,” he said. “But no final decision has been made with any decision subject to a public consultation.”