RESIDENTS who live in remote areas of Rossendale are to benefit from an expanded transport service thanks to a cash boost from the government.

The Arranged Passenger Transport (APT) is a shared taxi service that links areas of Ramsbottom, now set to be expanded after just two years on the road.

Drivers in the scheme take passengers to their destination in designated areas which are not on a bus route for a flat £1 subsidised fare or just 40p for pensioners, provided they ring the taxi firm at least an hour before they wish to travel.

It is particularly helpful to people in places like Holcombe Village, where there is no bus service due to the withdrawal of the 477 bus, and Summerseat which has no direct link with Ramsbottom.

Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority was awarded £233,999 from the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions for rural bus schemes in the north and south of the area -- £45,000 of which is being spent on the Ramsbottom scheme.

The cash means that the service will start operating three hours earlier at 6.30am and run to 11pm with reduced hours on Sunday.

Councillors are now hoping the service will expand further and begin to take people to the new accident and emergency department at Bury's Fairfield Hospital.

Drivers used to drop off at Bury General Hospital as an official drop-off point but now that hospital has closed Ramsbottom councillors are trying to get the service to extend to the area's new A and E at Fairfield Hospital.

Coun Dorothy Gunther said: "I am delighted that extra Government money has been allocated and Fairfield should now be an official drop off and pick up point.

"Travelling to hospital is not a luxury. Many people need to go to hospital, to visit out patients or see family and friends."

An APT spokesman in Manchester said: "The new enhanced service has just been agreed and is not yet on stream. We will shortly be putting the taxi service out to tender again as the current licence has almost expired."

The APT spokesman said that the improved service should be in operation by mid-April.

Until then if anyone needs a taxi and lives in the designated areas they can call Bullitt Cars on 0161 763 1655 at least one hour before they wish to travel.