IT could soon be bikes on board, but not on the Bury Metrolink.

There are plans to allow cyclists to put their bikes on trams but not on the Bury-Manchester line. They are too overcrowded already.

Instead, cycles will only be welcomed aboard the yet to be introduced phase three trams which will ultimately serve Manchester Airport, Oldham, Rochdale and Ashton.

This new generation of trams will be specially equipped with spaces for bikes. Existing vehicles don't have sufficient room for cycles, hence the ban which came into force when Metrolink was launched ten years ago.

Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTA) has agreed unanimously in principle to allow bikes on phase three trams during the non-peak hours.

The moves follows months of consultation which collected a number of views and ideas from cyclists and tram users in a bid to determine the opinions of stakeholders on the issue of accommodating cycles on the trams.

Councillor Roger Jones, GMPTA chairman, said: "The consultation we carried out does show a majority wanting to carry bikes on trams, but there is also a clear realisation that this is not possible on existing trams."

He stressed that although agreement in principle had been given for bikes to be taken on phase three trams, certain issues still needed to be explored and resolved. These include assessing the interior layout of the new trams for carrying cycles in terms of safety, the potential conflict with disabled passengers and issues of enforcing the permitted time of travel.

Trams on the Bury-Manchester line are deemed to be unsuitable for the carrying of bikes. Many of the vehicles are overcrowded and there are fears bikes would aggravate the problem further.