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Former Olympic cycling champion Chris Boardman has been appointed as Greater Manchester’s first transport commissioner.

Mr Boardman, who had previously been cycling and walking commissioner, has been handed the expanded role by Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham.

He has been tasked with helping to accelerate the delivery of the Bee Network – a fully integrated transport system, including the roll-out of the º£½ÇÊÓƵ’s largest cycling and walking network.

Mr Boardman said: "I am delighted to take on the role of transport commissioner. Our vision for Greater Manchester was never just about delivering quality cycling and walking routes.

"While they are essential ingredients in making Greater Manchester a better place to grow up, get on and grow old, they are only a part of the solution.

"If we combine our plan for a world-class active travel network, with trams, buses, trains, taxis and private hire, we can give people everything they need to travel around the region without needing to drive.

"Crucially, that will also help us achieve our goal to be carbon neutral by 2038. Greater Manchester can lead the country in showing how this can be done and I’m excited to play a part in making that happen."

It has also been revealed that the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) is set to approve the next milestone in getting the first franchised buses on the ground in January 2023, by asking Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to start the process to let contracts to run franchised bus services in the North West of the city-region, including Wigan and Bolton.

Mr Burnham added: "I am very pleased that Chris Boardman has agreed to become Greater Manchester’s first transport commissioner – his work and drive to make our city-region a global player to rival great places such as Copenhagen and New York over the last three years has been inspirational and I know he will apply this same vision in his new job."