DISABLED people have given the town's first "bendy bus" a firm thumbs-up.

Members of Bury Local Transport Group tried out the new articulated bus which First Manchester have just introduced on the 135 route between Bury and Manchester.

Among the party was Mr Alan Norton, manager of Baddac (Bury And District Disabled Advisory Council).

"It's a very good form of transport and we support it whole-heartedly," he said. "A lot of disabled people will use it once they know about it.

"It's not 100 per cent right but we're getting there: it's an excellent development."

Mr Norton praised several features of the single-decker, flat floor bus: it lowers itself at the stop and also puts out a ramp to help access, and there's more room for wheelchairs. He was also pleased with the suspension and the smooth way the bus leaves the stop.

Also on Monday's trip were Bury councillors and members of the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority.

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