A YELLOW school bus will visit Bolton so residents can learn about possible benefits for the town if a proposed £3 billion bid for money to improve public transport in the region is successful.

Yellow school buses would form part of the bid by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) which would also see a congestion charge on roads into Manchester.

They would replace existing school services with children having their own seats and the same driver every day.

For Bolton the cash bonanza would also mean a new transport interchange near the Trinity Street train station, a dedicated 18 km bus lane to Manchester and more carriages on trains.

The demonstration yellow bus will be in Bolton's Victoria Square from noon to 2pm on Monday and at Asda in Farnworth between 3.30pm and 6pm as part of a tour of Greater Manchester.

Experts will explain the proposed transport improvements for Bolton included in the Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) bid and the problem of congestion in the region.

Postcards will be available for people to feedback their thoughts, with leaflets also due to be delived to all homes in Greater Manchester over the coming weeks.

The consultation will also include telephone polls and public and business forums.

Cllr Roger Jones, chairman of the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority, said: "We are encouraging people to come down to the yellow bus as they will be able to find out a lot more about the TIF Bid proposals for their district.

"It is also an excellent opportunity for people to give us their views about how public transport might be improved and on the proposed congestion charge for Greater Manchester."

AGMA will decide whether to submit a bid to the Department for Transport by the end of July.

If it goes ahead with the bid a full statutory consultation will then take place in 2008.