ANDY Burnham has called for masks to be compulsory on trains and buses in Bolton and across Greater Manchester after July 19 - as he revealed that they must still be worn on the Metrolink tram services after ‘Freedom Day’.

Next week will see most of the remaining coronavirus restrictions ease, including the reopening of nightclubs.

But the Greater Manchester Mayor, who has power over tram services in the city-region, says that masks will remain compulsory on Metrolink services.

Although Mr Burnham doesn’t have powers over trains and buses across Greater Manchester, he hopes the public will be more likely to wear face coverings on those as result.

He spoke at a press conference following a decision by London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, to continue the mask-wearing rule on London’s transport network even after national restrictions are lifted after the weekend.

Last week Andy Burnham called the Government’s lifting of mask-wearing restrictions ‘fairly reckless’ and said Greater Manchester would be ‘strongly encouraging’ people to continue wearing face coverings on trams and buses here.