PENSIONERS' concessionary bus fares are to remain at 40p.

The Greater Manchester Transport Authority decided the flat rate fare which has been in place since April 2001 will stay the same for a further 12 months.

At Friday's GMPTA meeting Wigan member Cllr Robert Bleakley apologised for the content of a recent Liberal Democrat Focus newsletter which he accepted contained misleading information about concessionary fares and promised to correct the item in a future edition.

Authority Chairman Cllr Roger Jones said: "I hope this lays to rest any fears people have that concessionary fares may be about to rise. I hope this unequivocal statement will correct some of the misleading stories that have been circulating recently in some districts, particularly Wigan."