THIS is a water taxi - waxi - and it should soon be ferrying passengers along the Bridgewater Canal in Trafford.

The finishing touches are being put to the 12-seat vehicle before the service gets underway within two months.

At the start of the year, the Bridgewater Canal Company Limited (BCCL) awarded Manchester Water Taxis a licence to operate two boats on the canal, linking key locations in Trafford to Manchester city centre.

Manchester Water Taxis will run a service from intu Trafford Centre via Old Trafford and Hotel Football, terminating at Dukes 92, Castlefield. The journey will take about an hour.

it will also launch a commuter service from Sale every weekday morning, either from 7:30am or 7:45am and returning from Castlefield at 5:45 or 6pm. The cost of a weekly season ticket will be £35.

The waxis will offer refreshments and free w--fi and a TV service.

Manchester Water Taxis was founded in February 2009 by entrepreneur Steven Cadwell, who initially planned to launch on the Manchester Ship Canal, providing public transport services between the city centre and MediaCityUK.

Despite securing funding these plans were put on hold once HS2 was given the green light, and the Ordsall Chord began construction which isn’t due to finish until 2017.

Rather than mothball the project Manchester Water Taxis searched for alternative routes to market, which were realised with the signing of the BCCL licence.

Mr Cadwell’s vision is to quickly build a fleet of waxis that will offer an alternative form of transport to roads.

Manchester Water Taxis is aiming to aiming to begin operating on August 19, but it is possible this might be put back to September 10.

Mr Cadwell said: "The reaction thus far has been really positive. If we can convert just a small percentage of this interest the service will be a success."

"Anything more and we'll be able to expand the operation before the end of the year."