THOUSANDS of young people in Bolton are set to benefit from a new half-price bus ticket scheme.

The deal was proposed by Mayor Andy Burnham to help 16 to 18-year-olds to more easily access work opportunities, training, education and skills.

The promise to reduce the cost of travelling for young people was a key issue for the Labour mayor during his campaign earlier this year.

Mr Burnham said: “Throughout the mayoral campaign, I promised to help our young people get on in life, and this is the first step in delivering on that.

“We will only build a strong and prosperous Greater Manchester by giving every young person hope at the end of school and help to take up new opportunities.

“The cost of travel is a major barrier to young people’s progress and I am determined to remove it.

“I look forward to working together with bus operators in the future to improve the transport offer in Greater Manchester.”

Greater Manchester Travelcards Ltd (GMTL), which represents all bus companies in Greater Manchester, will extend its multi-operator 50 per cent discounted 16-and-under ticket and introduce a Junior Day Ticket to cover 16 to 18-year-olds.

Eligibility to use the ticket will run up to the August 31 after the user’s 18th birthday.

As with the existing igo card scheme for under-16s, ongoing eligibility will be linked to behaviour — with poor or anti-social behaviour resulting in the card being withdrawn.

Trevor Roberts, Chairman of GMTL, said: “GMTL, on behalf of public transport operators, is pleased to be able to assist in realising the Mayor’s aspiration, by introducing a new smart travelcard product for 16 to 18-year-olds, building on the already successful range of its travelcards offered across Greater Manchester.”

To benefit from the discount, users will be required to apply for a personalised 16-18 ‘get me there’ smartcard through Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM)

The new ticket and smartcard will be available from September 2017, with applications being accepted from August onwards.

More details will be shared with schools and colleges ahead of the summer holidays.