A BUS company has agreed to help fund a bus priority corridor between Bolton and Leigh in one of the first deals of its kind in the country.

First Manchester has pledged to share the cost of the scheme with the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority and Executive (GMPTA).

The company has reached a deal with Bolton Council, Wigan Council and GMPTA to part fund the Leigh to Bolton Quality Bus Corridor (QBC).

First Manchester has earmarked a £1.1 million budget to fund this project and two other proposed QBCs into Manchester -- from Bury and from Oldham -- are being considered.

Work on bus priority measures along the Leigh to Bolton route, including bus lanes and lay-bys, has already been completed and the official opening should take place in the next few months.

The project will also include the refurbishment of bus stops and shelters, which will be equipped with more detailed schedule information. Buses will be fitted with transponders, which will send signals to keep traffic lights on green until the bus has passed.

Bolton councillor Guy Harkin, vice-chairman of the GMPTA, said: "We're delighted to have reached this agreement with First.

"The authority believes that, when fully operational, the Leigh to Bolton QBC will really improve the reliability of services, speed up bus journey times and be instrumental in delivering the kind of quality service that will attract people out of their cars and onto public transport."