TWO 'lifeline' bus service have been saved — after transport chiefs stepped in.

The 535 between Bolton and Belmont and the 537 between Bank Top and Bolton were due to be axed — after operator Arriva announced it would be ending the services from the end of August.

But Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) will now subsidise the routes which will be run by UK Coachways from September 1.

The new services will run mainly at off-peak times, Monday to Saturday daytime, keeping links between Bolton Interchange, Astley Bridge Asda, Belmont and Bank Top.

Vice chair of the TfGM committee Cllr Mark Aldred said: “We are committed to providing excellent public transport and protecting essential bus services as far as possible within the limited budget available to us.

“Through careful management of this budget – which is reducing year on year – we are pleased to have been able to step in to keep bus links in the Belmont and Bank Top areas.

“However, this situation perfectly illustrates just one of the reasons why we are working with government to look at ways to reform how local bus services are provided and managed across Greater Manchester.”

About 80 per cent of bus services in Greater Manchester are operated commercially — with the remaining 20 per cent run with financial support from TfGM.

The majority of TfGM’s revenue funding comes from the 10 local authorities, who are also facing budgetary pressures.

The transport levy agreed for 2014/15 and 2015/16 has been reduced by three per cent.

TfGM is making savings of £7.1 million in its supported bus services budget over the two years to 2015/16.

Full information on public transport across Greater Manchester is available at www.tfgm.com and by calling Traveline on 0871 200 22 33.

The new bus timetables will be available closer to the time at www.tfgm.com/bustimetables