THE Government is being asked to provide money to ensure that the Leigh area has regular, reliable bus services.

MP Andy Burnham raised in Parliament the case of the resurrected 595 bus service to highlight the need for reliable bus services to all housing estates.

When evening and Sunday services covering Leigh, Westleigh and Abbey Lane (service 595) were withdrawn earlier this year, many residents protested that they had been left stranded and Mr Burnham took up their concerns.

That service has now been introduced, but it is on a use-it-or-lose-it basis and the servicewill be kept under review.

Mr Burnham pointed out that this does not address the issue of the way bus services are provided and regulated.

He said: "While this short-term problem has been resolved, it doesn't address the more fundamental problem of the way bus services are provided.

"A town like Leigh, with no rail service, needs reliable and permanent bus services to all of its local estates.

"Now that the Government has dealt with Railtrack, I am urging ministers to tackle that other Tory transport folly of bus deregulation."