A NEW type of school bus service designed to improve safety and security is to go on trial in parts of Greater Manchester.

Pupils using the service will sit in the same reserved seat on the bus each day to give them an incentive to keep it clean and drivers will be on the same bus service each day, enabling them to build a relationship with pupils.

Bus fares will be paid in advance and tickets will feature photographs of the pupils.

In addition, an agreed code of conduct will be signed by schools, pupils, bus operators and drivers.

Transport bosses believe the new service will have a number of advantages over the existing school services and will provide an attractive alternative to travelling to school in parents' cars.

Cllr Roger Jones, chairman of the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority, said: "Under the new guidelines, pupils or their parents will be held accountable for the results of any bad behaviour, instead of the operator, and ultimately the taxpayer, footing the bill."

The pilot scheme will be running by January in schools in Wigan and South East Manchester.