BOLTON'S clubbers and workers have been given a boost with the launch of a new night time bus network.

The trial bus services will operate on Friday and Saturday nights along seven key routes from Manchester city centre -- serving parts of Bolton, Leigh, Bury, Rochdale and Oldham. The services will be launched in November.

The services are expected to continue once the ten-month trial period is over. Police have backed the scheme. They say the need for night time bus services is "critical".

Chairman of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority Cllr Roger Jones said: "We place a high priority on safety and we hope these new bus services will enable people to get out of the city centre more easily and quickly."

The project will last until August, 2002. The network will be closely monitored and reports passed to GMPTE's policy committee.