MORE than half a million pounds is to be invested in creating an innovative integrated public transport system in North Lancashire.

The Carnforth Connect project has been selected to receive £660,500 of funding from the Government, and it is hoped the scheme will be up and running by September.

The money will be used to set up an information office on the platform at Carnforth station - which is itself in the middle of a £1.5 million revamp - where people can make travel inquires and get advice on connections.

This office will also serve as a control room for two new responsive bus services, one which will run between the stations at Carnforth and Wennington to help passengers access travelling to West Yorkshire.

The other new route will run between Milnthorpe or Beetham and Carnforth, and is designed for commuters, who will be able to book a place on the bus, get picked up from outside their home and taken to the station to catch their train.

Chris Anslow, group manager for public transport policy at Lancashire County Council said he was "absolutely delighted" the project had been selected for funding.

"It will try to ensure that people who are transferring from trains at Carnforth onto buses or vice versa will have a seamless and trouble-free journey," he said.

"The control centre will know if the train is running late and keep in contact with the bus drivers to ensure it waits, or if it has to go, make alternative arrangements so that at no time will passengers be left stranded."

A series of improvements to the bus stop on Haws Hill outside the station will be carried out over the next few months, and around five staff are to be recruited to man the control centre.

Mr Anslow added: "It's an important station for the area with a number of surrounding villages which will benefit from this, and of course with the work going on at the station between the trust and Railtrack we feel it would be ideal to complement all that good work."

Richard Toon, chairman of highways and transportation for Lancashire County Council, said it was "absolutely brilliant" news.

"It will breathe life back into the station, the town and the area.

I have no doubt that people will use it, particularly as a way of getting into the Lake District."

Geraldine Smith, MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale, said she was also delighted that the Government had recognised the importance of Carnforth station as part of an integrated transport network.