IMPROVEMENTS in the reliability of bus services operated by First in Greater Manchester have been welcomed by transport chiefs.

First's divisional managing director, Barry Pybis, said the number of bus service miles lost due to company services not running had plummeted by about 45 per cent over the last eight weeks.

The information was given at a meeting of Greater Manchester Passenger Authority's transport network committee.

Members were also told of steps being taken by First to improve their services. And they welcomed the establishment of regular, weekly meetings between officers from GMPTE and First in order to ensure that any problems were quickly identified.

Authority chairman, Councillor Roger Jones, said: "The problems that First experienced last year and in the early part of this year have been well documented. At the time, we made our displeasure at the reliability of First's services very clear and received assurances that things would start to improve.

"It has taken a while, but we are now very encouraged to hear the progress being made, both in terms of the reliability of services and the improved communication between First and GMPTE."

First's North West divisional commercial director, Russell Gard, added: "We have been working hard to bring about improvements to our standards and we believe that our efforts are now starting to bear fruit."