PARENTS are being urged to find alternatives to the car to get their children to school.

Road safety officials in Hartlepool want people to use cars less and walk to school, easing congestion outside school gates.

If there is no alternative to using a car, they recommend dropping the youngsters off a short distance away from the school.

Paul Watson, Hartlepool Borough Council's road safety manager, said: "Parents should look upon walking to school with their children as a practical opportunity to teach them about safety issues. Walking also increases their fitness levels."

A Safer Routes to School initiative, which aims to reduce dependency on cars, is operating across the town and individual schools are being encouraged to draw up travel plans.

This has resulted in the town's first walking bus at St Bega's School, a casualty reduction project at Dyke House School, and school crossing patrol improvements.

Mr Watson said: "This year we are planning to extend our scheme to cover Owton Manor Primary, Lynnfield Primary, Greatham Primary, Clavering Primary and Manor College of Technology."

Meanwhile, motorists are being urged to back a national campaign that aims to protect school crossing wardens.

Mr Watson said: "Incidents of traffic failing to stop have increased across the region.

"This campaign aims to highlight the fact that by not stopping for a warden then you are breaking the law and endangering lives."