AMERICAN-style yellow buses could soon be used to take local children to and from their schools under a pioneering new scheme.

Trials of the yellow buses -- said to offer increased safety for schoolchildren -- look set to be launched across Bolton and Wigan within 12 months.

And chairman of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority Councillor Roger Jones said the buses could then be used around Leigh if the trials prove successful.

Cllr Jones said bus operator First Group had already expressed interest: "We are waiting for them but as soon as we can, possibly in the next 12 months, we will trial it and they have said this could be in Wigan and Bolton. If successful it could come to Leigh but it is early days yet. I am very, very keen on the plan and it should work very well. We will have to talk to the Local Education Authorities to target schools where most pupils travel to on public transport."

Plans include using the same driver on every day of the week, allocated seats for each pupil, parental presence on the buses and a registering system where staff could check on a child's absence via mobile phones.

Cllr Jones added: "If the child does not turn up we have to contact parents to say 'there is a seat empty -- where is your child?' It could help truancy and and it could ease parent's fears on the buses."

He also said the scheme would greatly aid the ongoing fight against school bullies.

Funding for the scheme could be split between the GMPTE, LEAs and school's budgets although the costs of the scheme have yet to be discussed. Cllr Jones added: "School transport in Greater Manchester is a mess and I am right behind this plan."

Yellow buses have been transporting schoolchildren in America for sixty years.