BUS operator First is to introduce new early morning and evening journeys on several Bury services next month.

Additional early morning journeys will be made on the 98, 135 and 469, and extra evening journeys on the 98, 135, 137 and 138.

Councillor Alan Whitehead, of the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority, encouraged other bus operators to follow suit.

He said: "These extra bus services are great news for passengers. First has recognised that more and more people need to travel earlier in the day and later into the evening. Local bus services need to keep up with more flexible working hours and later shop opening times."

The new services will be introduced on October 28.

The timings and routes for journeys in Bury: Morning 98. 4.55am - 5.50am Bury - Manchester Shudehill 98. 5.55am - 6.50am Manchester Shudehill - Bury 135. 4.25am - 5.05am Bury - Manchester Piccadilly 135. 5.11am - 05.50am Manchester Piccadilly - Bury 469. 6.13am - 6.28am Bury - Jericho (for Hospital) Evening 93. Manchester - Bury, Monday to Saturday early evening service retimed to provide better intertiming with 138 and the improved 98.

98. Manchester - Bury, Monday to Saturday evening improvements. 6.10pm and 6.55pm from Bury extended from Whitefield into Manchester. Extra journeys at 7.25pm and 8.05pm from Manchester to Bury 135. Manchester - Bury Monday to Saturday mid evening service doubled from every 20 minutes to every 10 minutes 137/8. Manchester - Bury Monday to Saturday journeys retimed so as to provide an additional journey after 7pm from Manchester and to provide better intertiming with 93 and the improved 98.