A SPECIAL Christmas taxi service is being provided for people without cars who need to visit close relatives in hospital.

Members of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority's Transport Network Committee (GMPTE) have agreed to finance the taxi service for Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Years Day.

GMPTE officers have conducted research into the general public's needs and have been liaising with bus, rail and tram operators to ensure the level of service provided will meet as many of the travelling needs of Greater Manchester's public transport users as possible.

Although there will be the usual reduction in the level of services between Christmas and New Year, GMPTE has taken into account feedback from the public and requested the bus companies to provide adequate journeys for people to travel to work on these days.

Councillor Allen Brett, Chair of the Transport Network Committee, said: "Naturally, there will be a reduced level f services over the festive period, but I am particularly pleased that, for the eighth year in a row, the Authority will be able to provide a free of charge door-to-door service for people to visit their close relatives in hospital on the festive Bank Holidays.

" In the run up to Christmas we will be conducting an extensive publicity campaign to make sure that Greater Manchester's public transport users are fully informed as possible. I would urge all passengers to make full use of the information we will be making available to them in advance of their journeys over the Christmas period, either by telephoning the public transport information line, looking at GMPTE's web-site or by visiting GMPTE Travelshops."

The special taxi service will be available on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day and will need to be booked through the relevant hospital.