Transport chiefs have announced a major boost for a campaign to encourage youngsters to cycle to school.

Eastbourne Comprehensive School, in Darlington, has secured £33,000 from the Government's Cycle Projects Fund - the largest grant of its kind awarded to any school in the country.

The borough council has also matched the grant, bringing the total invested in the scheme to £66,000.

The money will be used to provide cycle parking for 100 bikes, a new cycle path, in-school lockers for cycle helmets and equipment, as well as cycle safety training for pupils both at the school and for future students.

Headteacher Richard Appleton welcomed the news, saying many pupils had long expressed a wish to come to school on bikes.

"Working with Sustrans (the sustainable transport charity), we put together a bid to address this need," he said.

"The pupils have worked hard over the last year carrying out surveys, research and doing presentations to help put together the bid.

"It is credit to them as well as Sustrans and Darlington Borough Council that we have achieved so much."

Councillor Nick Wallis, Darlington Borough Council's cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "The hard work of the pupils and the involvement of Sustrans has been rewarded.

"Once in place, the scheme will enable more children to cycle to school - this will ease traffic congestion at the school gates and bring with it positive health benefits for the students. The scheme will also form part of the council's school travel plan."

Sustrans Tees Valley area manager, Owen Wilson, added: "The cycle fund award is a major boost to the Eastbourne School Safe Routes to School project and with further support from the school and the pupils it is hoped that Eastbourne School will become a flagship for other schools interested in encouraging pupils to walk or cycle to school."

To help celebrate the success, this year's Eastbourne School calendar will feature a road safety and sustainable transport theme.