A BUS station in the grounds of one of the area's biggest high schools will improve pupils' safety.

Transport bosses agreed to contribute £20,000 toward the cost of new turnaround facilities at St Mary's RC High School at Astley with the work also being funded by Wigan Borough Council and the school.

The new turning facility will cater for buses serving Tyldesley, Boothstown and Atherton and is intended to make bus operations at the school safer and simpler to supervise. Currently bus stop lay-bys are in front of school on Manchester Road.

Councillor John Hilton, Greater Manchester Transport Authority's Leigh area spokesman, said: "A large number of school buses serve St Mary's and we want to make sure that they can do so as safely, quickly and efficiently as possible."

"This dedicated facility off the main highway will help pupils find their buses in a much more organised way. It will also make it much easier for school staff to supervise the area at the start and end of the school day."