The total cost of the Metrolink expansion is an estimated �900m

Plans to build three lines out to Manchester Airport, Oldham and Ashton-under-Lyne were put on hold in July 2004 because of increasing costs.

Since then, local transport authority bosses have been working on plans to reduce the estimated �900m bill.

The government has said it will not provide any more than �520m.

Announcement due

The Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTE) has been lobbying the government to increase its share of the funding.

Transport Minister Dr Stephen Ladyman told the BBC that a decision on the future of the project would be made "fairly shortly".

"The Secretary of State and I are discussing the regional advice on the funding allocation and we are hoping to make our announcement before the summer recess," he said.

As part of attempts to cut costs, GMPTE axed the Wythenshawe hospital section of the proposed route out to the airport.

July break

The decision was taken after the authority could not find any measures to reduce costs in the other two routes.

The expansion of the system, dubbed "The Big Bang", was announced in 2000 and homes, schools and offices were demolished in some areas to make way for the new lines.

The announcement in 2004 that the project would be scrapped provoked anger in the city and a working party was set up to try and salvage the scheme.