EARLY risers and night owls will be able to catch the Metrolink for free next week.

For one day only, anyone catching a tram before 7am or after 7pm can travel without buying a ticket.

The free travel offer is the initiative of Metrolink owner Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to celebrate Clean Air Day on Thursday, June 21.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is backing the region’s second Clean Air Day, calling on people to pledge to make a change.

Mayor Burnham said: “It’s great to see Metrolink get on board the Clean Air Day campaign with this free travel offer.

“Short of cycling and walking, there’s no greener way to travel around Greater Manchester than by tram.

“We breathe in polluted air every day and we all need to take action to help change things. If everyone makes a small change it will add up to a very big difference for local air quality.

“I encourage drivers to take up this free travel offer on Clean Air Day to see if tram-travel is something that could work for them.”

It is part of a drive to encourage people to think about changing travel habits to improve air quality by using public transport.

The Metrolink is powered by green energy and trams are zero-emission at street level.

TfGM’s Head of Metrolink, Danny Vaughan, added: “Our trams are zero-emission at street level and are powered by electricity produced from modern, cleaner and greener sources such as wind-power.

“While services can get busy during peak times, this free travel offer is aimed at encouraging people to think about changing travel habits.

“Choosing to travel outside peak hours, when trams are less busy, can help reduce the peaks in air pollution caused by commuter car journeys, one of the main sources of air pollution."

Road transport is largely responsible for some of the most dangerous air pollutants in Greater Manchester, including nitrogen dioxide and particulates.

Vehicle exhausts can produce harmful gases and tiny particles of soot and other matter that cause health problems and harm our environment.

To find out more about Clean Air Day, visit www.tfgm.com/air.