ECO friendly schoolchildren kicked off National Walk to School Week this morning by having a ball.

Children at Witton-le-Wear Primary School will kick 70 penalties to help them understand the amount of pollution caused when parents drive them to school.

This is because 70 footballs hold the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide produced by one car on the average school run.

A giant inflatable globe holding the same volume of the gas will also be on show.

The event also marks a year since the start of the school's walking bus - the largest in County Durham, with up to 40 pupils using it.

The penalty shoot-out will follow an assembly when a cake will be presented to the children.

Meanwhile, younger pupils will bake cookies in the shape of feet to emphasise the importance of walking to school.

The school has devised a travel plan with Durham County Council's travel planning team.

Headteacher Mark Stephenson said: "Our walking bus has been hugely successful in cutting the number of cars outside school and reducing congestion.

"Walking to school promotes fitness among both parents and children and helps cut pollution, so it's fitting that we are holding a penalty shoot-out to highlight the amount of carbon dioxide produced by cars on the average school run."

National Walk to School Week runs until Friday and encourages parents, pupils and teachers to think about the advantages of walking to school.