CHILDREN at a Newton Aycliffe primary school are to benefit from a park-and-walk scheme.

Byerley Park Primary School has been selected to take part in Durham County Council's Safer Routes to Schools programme.

The aim of the scheme is to reduce the number of children travelling to school by car and to make existing walking and cycling routes safer.

Concerns have been expressed about parking problems around the school and local estates.

A working group, made up of parents, teachers, councillors and county council traffic engineers, want the nearby Horndale Working Men's Club car park to be used as a park-and-walk site.

To help the scheme operate successfully, it has been proposed to build a pedestrian refuge in Greenfield Way, next to the club.

That, with the construction of several footways, will allow the children to reach school safely.

There will also be some "school safety zone" road signs in Greenfield Way, with additional road markings in Staintondale.

Working group chairman Councillor Vince Crosby said: "We also need to be aware of the pollution caused by cars and embrace the Local Agenda 21 initiative. Discussions will be taking place on that with the school."

People wishing to see the plans can do so at the club. Durham County Council will also provide a display at the school.