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A new Metroshuttle bus service is being planned to link Victoria Station on the northern edge of the city centre with Oxford Road and its university campuses as well as key retail, commerce and leisure developments on route.

North Manchester already has the advantage of the Metrolink system which carries commuters as far as Victoria and Piccadilly stations for inter city rail services and a connecting bus service operates in some parts of the city centre.

Despite the advantages, the area continues to miss out on the economic boom enjoyed in the trendier south where hundreds of students pour in every year and buy their first homes in places like Chorlton pushing up property values.

Education chiefs in north Manchester are already pushing for university campuses to be set up in the north of the city attached to the existing Manchester College of Art and Technology in Moston where huge redevelopment is taking place.

Their aim is to encourage more young people born and raised in the area to go on to higher education and remain in north Manchester when they begin their professional and family lives.

The free Metroshuttle service would make living in low-cost north Manchester more convenient for students and young professionals moving into the city and give areas such as Crumpsall, Blackley and Cheetham Hill a new lease of life.

Manchester City Council is considering contributing ?300,000 a year towards the Metroshuttle while business partners including city centre developers are expected to make up the rest of the ?1.5m annual running costs.

The main aim of the scheme is to improve accessibility and reinforce the economic vitality of Manchester city Centre by linking rail stations, car parks and key public transport routes with the main retail, commercial, leisure and cultural destinations.

There will be phased introduction between spring 2002 and February 2004 starting with the new Victoria Station to Oxford Road service which could be in place in time for the new influx of students next September.