PRESTWICH Metrolink noise victim Maria Fuller has been asked by transport bosses to back their "Get Our Metrolink On Track" campaign.

After years of suffering the effects of trams passing by her house in Cedar Grove, Prestwich, ironically, Mrs Fuller has been invited to back their cause after the Government refused to support plans to extend the service.

In July, transport secretary Alistair Darling MP controversially announced he would "not approve" the plans to extend the Metrolink system, thus withdrawing vital funding which was promised four years ago.

Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) is now working with local authorities, including Bury Council, MPs, councillors, members of the public and officials from the private sector to try to reverse the decision.

It has asked Mrs Fuller to take part in a campaign video that will be shown at the Labour Party Conference later this month.

Filming at Mrs Fuller's house starts next week and she will be interviewed on camera about how the decision will affect her.

Mrs Fuller said: "I surprised to be asked after all the noise I have made against Metrolink, but I have agreed to do it.

"I think it is despicable that the funding has been withdrawn.

"I am not anti-Metrolink, my bugbear was the age of the track and the noise produced as a result of this. Apparently, they thought I would make a 'valuable contribution'."

Mrs Fuller has long campaigned for more money to upgrade the 40-year-old track and even demonstrated outside Downing Street and the Houses of Parliament.

Her neighbours in Willow Road were recently awarded the accolade of "Noisiest House in Britain" by the Noise Abatement Society, due to the excessive noise caused by Metrolink trams.

Mrs Fuller said Mr Darling's decision had "immensely increased the stress" of hundreds of tramside dwellers who have been looking forward to getting comfort from the reduction in noise pollution that a new track would provide.

She added: "Despite the severity of my own personal suffering caused by the noise pollution, I still consider the trams to be a vital part of Manchester's transport future. The Government must have realised it was an excellent scheme to have started funding in the first instance. How can it suddenly have become undesirable?"