VITAL funding for the upgrading of the Bury-Manchester Metrolink line could have been won back.

Greater Manchester transport bosses are poised to quiz Government ministers over the improvement work, which was effectively suspended when the Government earlier turned down finance for Metrolink's so-called "big bang" extension.

Hopes that the line improvements can now go ahead have been heightened by the news that the funding for the three extensions to the network could be forthcoming after all.

A £520 million budget package is back on track, according to the Government's Transport Secretary, Alistair Darling.

However, Greater Manchester's transport chiefs have been told they will have to find any extra funding needed for the extensions which will embrace Oldham and Rochdale, Tameside and south Manchester, including the airport.

In light of Mr Darling's comments, a joint statement has been issued by Lord Peter Smith, leader of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA), Councillor Richard Leese, vice-chairman of AGMA and leader of Manchester City Council, and Coun Roger Jones, chairman of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTA).

Commenting on the Government announcement, they said: "In principle, the statement seems to be a small step forward from where we were in July but there remains a number of issues to be resolved.

"We will, therefore, be seeking an urgent meeting with the Secretary of State. A particular issue which we would like to discuss with him is the funding of the upgrading of Metrolink phases one and two."

Money for the Bury-Manchester line upgrade had been included in the original £520 million "big bang" extension funding package which was rejected by the Government earlier this year.