A door-to-door 'Local Link' service, funded by Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority (GMITA), was extended this week to serve more passengers living in Bury's rural areas. The extension to the service was proposed by the Bury Rural Inequalities Forum (RIF), with support from GMCVO's Transport Resource Unit.

The Bury RIF was first set up after an intervention by GMCVO's Rural Resource Unit in 2007 and has been continued with the support of Bury MBC. The Transport Resource Unit supported the group to build a case for the improvement of public and door-to-door transport in the area and helped them to broker a relationship with GMPTE officers.

Joanne Wilcock, Chair of the Affetside Society Residents Group and member of the RIF, said: "The members of the Rural Inequalities Forum in Bury are delighted with the newly extended Local Link service to some of their areas and are indebted to the Transport Resource Unit for their guidance and support in helping them secure this new method of transport'.

The Bury Rural Local Link will initially operate on a trial basis, serving the communities around Ramsbottom and Tottington, covering the Affetside, Hawkshaw, Holcombe Brook, Summerseat and Greenmount areas of the borough. The service, provided by Bullitt Cars of Bury, will take passengers anywhere in the operating area as well as linking up with Bury Interchange.