CHILDREN from 15 primary and nursery schools in Stanley are to step out to show the health benefits of walking to school.

The children will take part in a synchronised walk from their schools to South Stanley Community Centre carrying a jigsaw story piece on Wednesday.

With the help of Durham County Council's mascot, Sam, they will complete the story with their jigsaw pieces on arrival at the centre.

Jaime Battye, of SureStart Stanley, said: "The North-East has increasingly high obesity rates among adults and children. Eight per cent of boys and ten per cent of girls are obese.

"Guidelines say that walking 10,000 steps a day can help lower these high rates and walking to school could be the first step to achieving this target."

Organised by the council's school travel planning team and SureStart's health promotion worker, the event is part of National Walk to School Week.

The schools will be presented with a Walk to School assembly pack so that they can continue their celebrations with other pupils once they return to school.

Alison Butterfield, from the council's school travel planning team, said: "By bringing their own piece of the jigsaw to the event, the children can see that a small contribution can make a huge difference.

"This is the same for the journey to school.

"By walking to school, we can reduce pollution and congestion and enjoy the health benefits of regular exercise."

For more information, contact Jaime Battye at SureStart Stanley on (01207) 232048 or Alison Butterfield, travel plan adviser, on 0191-383 3086.