A BUS service to open up job opportunities for Trafford residents has been relaunched this week.

Several changes have also been made to the operation of the '18' route to the Trafford Centre, transport bosses have confirmed

Before now the route, through Wythenshawe, Sale, Stretford and Urmston, was operated by Manchester Community Transport before the firm ceased operations.

And in lockdown an emergency service has been run by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).

Plans to continue with the 18 bus, incorporating some elements of the 272 service through Stretford and Wythenshawe, have been approved by transport chiefs.

In a Greater Manchester Combined Authority transport report, Alison Chew, TfGM's interim head of bus services, said: "The service is proposed to be extended from Trafford Centre to start back from Eccles and run via Trafford Park.

"Between Sale Moor and Baguley the service will run via Brooklands and will be extended from Wythenshawe to Manchester Airport.

"The merger of the two routes will see the following improvements:

"• Direct regular service from Urmston to Trafford Park and Eccles opening access to employment opportunities and onward connections.

"• Direct regular service from Eccles, Urmston, Stretford, Sale, Brooklands, Baguley and Newall Green to Manchester Airport opening access to employment opportunities and onward connections.

"• Direct regular service from Eccles, Urmston and Stretford to Wythenshawe Hospital.

"• Introduction of evening/Sunday service via Dane Road at Sale Moor and Brooklands increasing accessibility.

"In order to allow the merger of the routes, service 18 will no longer serve Northern Moor or Northenden. Customers can use service 41 to interchange at Sale."