AMERICAN-style buses will be used to drive children to and from school if Manchester is given the green light to introduce a congestion charge.

As part of the scheme, a £3 billion package of improvements would be made to public transport in Greater Manchester.

This would include a huge expansion of the yellow bus programme, with an additional 120 purpose-built buses serving schools across Greater Manchester.

Lord Peter Smith, leader of AGMA, which represents the ten local authorities in Greater Manchester, said: “Further funding could see this number increase to more than 300, totally transforming the school run of the future.”

A public referendum on the road toll scheme will be held in Bolton and the rest of Greater Manchester in December.