GREATER Manchester could be held up as a showcase area to demonstrate the benefits of smartcard technology for public transport users.

The Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority have put a bid to the government to develop another similar schemeas a method of payment for travel on public transport.

Cllr Roger Jones, chairman of the authority's Policy Committee, said: "Greater Manchester is already leading the way in the development of smartcard technology for public transport applications and will begin to implement the first phase of the project next year.

"The showcase funding would enable us to take an even more visionary approach to the smartcard, allowing us to bring forward its development across trams, trains and cross-boundary level."