TRANSPORT minister Keith Hill officially opened Clitheroe's state-of-the-art bus and rail interchange.

After taking a trip around the interchange he rode on the quality bus route around local villages.

Mr Hill said: "This Government is committed to transforming public transport and to providing more choice. Across the UK we have injected an extra £170million into rural transport over three years.

"As I have seen, the introduction of more and better buses makes a real difference to the lives of people in our small towns and villages. It is a fine example of what can be achieved by partnership schemes.

The interchange has been successfully integrating local travel services for people travelling across the county since it opened in March.

A new control centre built next to the train station helps co-ordinate journeys by bus and train and all bus stops have been brought together on the same site to make things easier for travellers. Facilities are also available to store bicycles.

The project funded through a partnership between Lancashire Country Council, the DETR, the Countryside Agency, Ribble Valley Borough Council, the East Lancashire Partnership and public transport operators.

Lancashire's highways chairman County Councillor Richard Toon said: "A visit from the minister really gives the Interchange the prestige it deserves. We have put the Government's vision of integrated transport into practice in the Ribble Valley and it's working well.

"People are finding that having staff on the spot to help with any problems is a real benefit. Features like the bike racks mean that people can complete long journeys without using the car."

Early next year a through fare system between bus and rail services will be introduced.