Frodsham MP Mike Amesbury has welcomed the prospect of an innovative public transport service in the rural area after a successful £1m funding bid.

The three-year trial of a demand-responsive bus and taxi service follows Cheshire West and Chester Council's successful bid to Government for £1.075m from the Rural Mobility Fund.

Passengers will book a vehicle on one of a number of core journeys. If enough people wish to use the same route, around the same time, then it will run.

In Mike's constituency, the scheme will cover areas including Frodsham, Helsby, Kingsley, Norley, Crowton, Acton Bridge, Flaxmere, Commonside, Manley and Alvanley.

Mike, who wrote to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps in support of the trial, said: "This is fabulous news. Where there is sufficient demand, the service will deliver green journeys for workers, shoppers and students while addressing social isolation, including among older people, in the rural area.

"The lack of public transport in Frodsham, Helsby and the surrounding areas has been a major concern for some time."

He added: "Huge credit must go to the Labour council for the work it has done on this."

The proposal is for journey requests to be made through a website or a mobile application with a non-electronic alternative for those not online. CWaC will be assessing opportunities for the use of zero/low emission vehicles, which could include buses and taxis.

CWaC is one of only 17 local authorities to be awarded funding from the Rural Mobility Fund, which will also cover Delamere, Mouldsworth and Hapsford.

The fund aims to trial demand-responsive transport solutions to understand whether they can work better for residents of rural and suburban areas than traditional timetabled bus services.