MISSED the bus? Don't worry as they'll be another along in ten minutes!

That's the boast from transport operators First Manchester who are poised to launch their "high frequency" service on certain routes throughout the Bury area.

And for many commuters, it means that the maximum wait between buses will be just ten minutes or less.

The "high frequency" scheme, which starts on Monday, (June 11) will operate on around nine of the 30 Bury service routes between 7am and 7pm, Monday to Saturday.

First Manchester bosses are hopeful the new service will encourage existing car users to board the bus instead.

With current ticketing arrangements unchanged, a key element of the programme is the publication of a colourful, easy-to-use map of the "high frequency" route network.

The map is similar to that used by underground rail networks and has been designed to make it easy to find which bus takes them quickly to where they want to go. "High frequency" identifies selected services, from within the existing network, on which buses will operate at ten-minute intervals throughout the daytime.

Services in Bury which will benefit are: 98 Bury-Manchester; 135 Bury-Manchester; 163 Bury-Manchester; 469 Tottington-Rochdale via Bury; 471 Rochdale-Bury; 471 Bury-Bolton; 472 Bury-Ramsbottom; 474 Bury-Ramsbottom and 524 Bolton-Bury via Radcliffe.

And even better news for commuters is that some of these routes will be served by buses every seven minutes.

Commenting on "high frequency," First Manchester divisional operations director Mr Russell Gard said: "We are committed to making public transport more accessible and easier to use.

"In Manchester, we have invested more than £27 million over the last four years in the purchase of 271 new low-floor buses.

"The concept of providing high frequency and reliable buses is a proven combination for passenger growth and is part of our overall strategy to see a transfer between car and public transport, so reducing traffic congestion and its adverse environmental effects."