THE Government is offering a financial incentive to a school in a bid to cut traffic during the school run.

If Harrogate Grammar School adopts a School Travel Plan (STP) it will receive about £15,000 for a project aimed at getting people to stop using cars for journeys.

A cycle shed, pedestrian shelters and new pathways could be created with the windfall.

The school has a wide catchment area with many pupils being bussed in from areas such as Ripon, Pateley Bridge and Boroughbridge.

Observers of the school run in Harrogate say there is much less congestion when schools are on holiday and the town's Chamber of Trade and Commerce has campaigned for action to cut down on the use of cars for trips to and from schools, even suggesting staggered starts to spread the traffic load.

Meanwhile, the question of whether sixth form students should be allowed to drive their cars to school is also being raised.

The STP is being led by a former teacher, Quentin Sands, and senior pupils who have already addressed assemblies with a "walk to school" message.

North Yorkshire county councillor John Fort, whose executive portfolio includes public transport, welcomed the school's initiative and said it was fully backed by the county council.

He said when the school run was not in operation during holidays there was little problem driving through Harrogate during peak traffic times.

Recently, Harrogate and District Travel bus company has established dedicated yellow school buses to bring pupils into Harrogate.