TRANSPORT bosses are to spend £60,000 to look at ways of bringing Bolton's buses and trains closer together.

Among the ideas being considered are free buses in the town centre linking the Moor Lane bus station with the train station, similar to the scheme currently operating in Manchester city centre.

The aim is to make it easier for people to switch between buses and trains.

The study will be funded by the Greater Manchester Transport Authority and will run alongside another transport study commissioned by Bolton Council.

A report will be submitted next month to the authority and the findings are expected to form part of Greater Manchester's Local Transport Plan for 2006/07 to improve transport links in the region.

Daubhill councillor Guy Harkin has backed the study and believes that an integrated transport system between buses and trains is an important part in the town's development.

Cllr Harkin, who is deputy chairman of the authority, said: "There is a great deal of scope for improving interchange between buses and trains in Bolton and I am delighted that this is going to be addressed by the study.

"Making public transport easier to use and more attractive is an important element of our wider development plans for Bolton town centre, so I look forward to reading and being able to act upon the consultants' findings."

Cllr Andrew Fender, chairman of the authority, said: "The money will be used to thoroughly investigate the options for delivering an integrated public transport service in Bolton's town centre.

"It will take a detailed look at Bolton's major transport hubs and how they link to one another - as well as how they link to other important locations, concentrating on how these could be improved."

A council spokesman said it had commissioned an independent company to look at all aspects of transport in the town to put together "a vision for the future."