AN innovative scheme to improve the health and safety of children has been launched in Hartlepool.

Rossmere Primary School has introduced a car-free zone to encourage pupils to walk to school.

Parents are being asked to help ensure the six-week pilot scheme is a success by parking outside the exclusion zone when they drop off and collect their children.

Karen Wilkinson, Hartlepool Borough Council's travel plan co-ordinator, has been working with teacher Alison Hill to introduce the Park and Stride scheme.

About 120 of the school's 420 pupils have signed up.

Ms Wilkinson said: "I am delighted so many youngsters and their parents are backing the idea.

"Without their support, the scheme simply would not work. We will be monitoring the effectiveness of the Rossmere scheme with a view to expanding it to other schools."

As part of the project, children have been issued with walking passports and each time they walk to school, they are given a smiley face in their passports.

The class achieving the most smiles in a two-week period receives a Rossy Papa Bear prize for every child.