FAMILIES are being urged to reap the health benefits of leaving their cars at home and walking to school.

Walk to School Week runs from Monday to May 25, and the main focus this year is on reducing pollution that can severely affect children's health.

Joanne Taylor, Hartlepool Borough Council's travel plan assistant, said: "Cars produce more pollution per kilometre on short journeys when their engines are cold and they keep stopping and starting - does that sound like your journey to school?

"Research has also shown that pollutant levels inside cars are at least three times higher than on the roadside, so driving to school isn't just bad for the environment, but also for your health.

"There has been good support for previous Walk to School Weeks, and we hope that parents and carers will again give us their backing.

"We want to encourage all parents and carers to consider walking, even those who live some way from school. If the school journey is too far to walk, then drive part of the way and walk the rest."

She said as well as helping to improve children's health and fitness levels, walking improved the safety of pupils by reducing the number of cars parked outside school gates and easing traffic congestion.

All schools in Hartlepool are being invited to take part in Walk to School Week, with nurseries and primary schools receiving posters and class survey sheets to promote the campaign.

Special packs featuring promotional ideas and classroom activities are also being distributed.

Ten schools in the town which have developed, or are about to develop a School Travel Plan - a document outlining initiatives to increase travel choices - are receiving additional support with items such as stickers and leaflets.