THE pleas of Horwich residents for a direct bus service to the Royal Bolton Hospital -- could soon be answered -- following the axing of the 573 route.

The Greater Manchester Public Transport Executive may apply for Government funding to subsidise bus routes in Greater Manchester, including ones to the hospital in Farnworth. They are working with Bolton Council to look at ways of improving local services, focusing on linking areas of high unemployment with major areas of employment such as Middlebrook, Wingates and the Royal Bolton Hospital.

The scheme is part of the Government's Urban Bus Challenge, designed to fund new bus services that initially might not be commercially viable.

Funding would be made available to run the service for the first three years, provided an agreement is put in place for it to continue for a further two years, paid for by a local bus company or the transport executive.

A GMPTE spokesman said: "These discussions are in the early stages. It is yet to be decided if there is a proposal which would meet the criteria to win Government funding.

"If a proposal was successfully submitted, it could provide improved links from parts of Horwich to the Royal Bolton Hospital."

Since the 573 hospital service from Horwich was withdrawn nearly a year ago, people have to travel to Blackrod to catch a bus to the hospital.

But it only runs every hour and bus company officials advise that people should travel into Bolton, where there are more frequent services.

Cllr Bob Ronson said going into the town centre would mean people spending an hour getting to the hospital, when it can take only seven and-a-half minutes by car. He said: "We have had three services which have been taken off because they have been under-subscribed, so it would be great if we can get some Government subsidy for it." It is a big problem for elderly people and we would definitely welcome it."