A BID to secure funding for a tram link between Bolton and Radcliffe has been submitted to the government.

Mark Logan, the MP for Bolton North East, hopes to secure part of the Department for Transport's £500m Restoring Your Railway Ideas Fund to connect the town to the major public transport network.

The proposal submitted shows Metrolink connecting Bolton, Radcliffe and Bury by reviving an existing disused track bed; bridging the gap between some of the more deprived areas along the route.

Mr Logan said: “Bolton boasts an estimated population of 285,400 and we need to do everything we can to bring greater convenience and opportunity to every one of you.

"After many weeks preparing the bid I believe we have put in an attractive argument for bringing Metrolink to the borough.”

Cllr David Greenhalgh, leader of Bolton Council, added: “These are the first exciting steps to bring Metrolink to Bolton, an aspiration we had as the new administration, and we will continue to work with our partners in Transport for Greater Manchester and Mark Logan MP, to hopefully get to the next stage of the process and put a bid together that will truly benefit Bolton.”