COMMUTERS are being urged to back a petition calling for rail services to extend to Ramsbottom and beyond.

MP David Chaytor is calling for a mainstream service running from Rossendale to Manchester on the East Lancashire Railway.

"We need to relieve the pressure on the M66," said the Bury North backbencher.

"Half the people in Bury work in the city, and there has been a huge increase in house building in Bury North and Rossendale, and many of these residents work in Manchester or further afield.

"The ELR has gone from strength to strength in the past 20 years, but one time it doesn't run is during peak periods."

One option would allow people in the north to travel to Bury and then transfer to the Metrolink, with a possibility that the trams could run on the ELR line itself.

An alternative might be running a train from Rawtenstall through Ramsbottom, Summ-erseat and Bury, before going through Heywood on its way to Manchester Victoria station.

Mr Chaytor added: "It will take a long time and it won't be cheap or quick. But now we have a feasibility study under way, with a team from Rossendale, Bury, Rochdale, the ELR and the Passenger Transport Authority."