Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority has stepped in to keep two Bolton bus services on the road after bus operator First announced their withdrawal next month.

At its Transport Network Committee this morning, members agreed to fund replacement 553 and 559 bus services. The news follows First's decision to stop running the two services - and the 554 service - from April 15.

Both services will run every hour during the daytime from Monday to Saturday. The service routes will be altered to ensure all areas along the three withdrawn routes have access to a bus service.

Councillor Nick Peel, Bolton spokesperson for the Authority, welcomed the decision: "I am extremely pleased that the Authority has agreed to fund these replacement services.

"They will give thousands of Bolton residents who may not have a car access to a decent transport service.

"That said, I am extremely disappointed at First's withdrawal of three major bus routes, which would have left many communities completely isolated. Once again we have to step in with public funds to make sure people have access to a basic bus service.

"It is the Authority's policy that everybody should have reasonable access to public transport, but we only have a limited budget for replacement bus services. I urge First to think about the effect decisions such as this have on its passengers."

The new 559 service will run between Bolton and Hindley and the route has been altered to take in Willows Lane and Hulton Lane. In addition, First will be running some of its commercial 540 journeys beyond Daisy Hill to Wigan.

The 553 service will run between Bolton and Boothstown. The new route will take in Willow Lane, Deane Church Lane, Morris Green Lane, Sapling Road and St Helens Road.

Combined, the 559 and 553 services will provide two buses an hour along Willow Lane and an hourly service on Hulton Lane. Residents in Morris Green who currently use the 554 service will be able to use the new 553 service.

New timetables for both services will be made available from GMPTE Travelshops at Bolton and Wigan bus stations as soon as possible.

Bus users can check their services before travelling at www.gmpte.com www.gmpte.com or by calling Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 (calls cost 10p per minute from landlines). Lines are open from 7am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 8pm at weekends.