A NEW transport service which combines the flexibility of a taxi with the low cost of a bus is on the way for Simister residents.

And it will provide the area, which is not served by public transport in the evenings, with vital links to the local bus and tram network. Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority's transport network committee has agreed to fund a six-month trial of the Local Link service.

Local Link is a shared taxi service which will run every day between 6.30pm and 11.30pm, beginning on Monday.

Passengers can be picked up from their home and travel to any destination in Simister. The service will also provide pick up and drop offs at Heaton Park and Prestwich Metrolink stops, stops on local bus routes and the Longfield Suite on Bury New Road.

Councillor Mike Connolly, Bury's spokesman on the authority, said: "Not everybody has a car and the authority is committed to making sure that all members of the community have access to decent public transport links.

"While the 96 bus service runs to Simister in the daytime there are no buses running in the area during the evening, so we hope that good use will be made of Local Link. The service is cheap and easy to use and has proved very successful in other areas of Greater Manchester."

He added: "Local Link will provide a handy way to get out and about in the area and to link-up with Metrolink or buses into Bury or Manchester. If the service is well used we can keep it running beyond this six-month trial period. So, I'd ask people to give it a go and spread the word."

To use Local Link, passengers simply need to call Prestwich Cars on 0161 773 2211 at least one hour before travelling. Journeys can be booked up to one week in advance and all journeys for the week can be booked with just one phone call. Fares are low at £1.30 single and £2 return for adults. GMPTE concessionary permit holders travel for 60p single or £1 return.

Leaflets outlining the service and providing maps of the areas covered will be distributed to households in Simister. They can also be obtained by calling GMPTE distribution on 0161-242 6040 or downloading a copy at www.gmpte.com