SCHOOLS across County Durham are joining a scheme to persuade pupils to walk rather than get a lift.

Twenty four schools are joining 33 which have produced school travel plans with Durham County Council.

The idea is to encourage youngsters to walk, partly by carrying out improvements to make school routes safer.

These include creating priority junctions, park and walk sites, and persuading drivers to slow down.

Council cabinet member for sustainability, Bob Pendlebury, said: "It's good that so many schools are already involved and we want to encourage more to take part.

"By making the route to school safer, we are encouraging children and their parents to leave the car at home and walk to school. This not only reduces the number of cars on the road but also school gate congestion.''

Schools developing travel plans are: Wolsingham School and Technology College; Bishop Ian Ramsey School, Medomsley; Dene Community School of Technology, Peterlee; Evenwood CoE Primary; St John's RC Comprehensive, Bishop Auckland; Lanchester Primary and All Saints Primary; Blackfyne Comprehensive, Consett; New Seaham Primary and Seaham School of Technology; St William's RC Primary and Trimdon Junior; Wolsingham Primary; St Cuthbert's RC Primary, Chester-le-Street; Deerness Valley Comprehensive, Ushaw Moor; Leadgate Community Infant; St Pius 10th RC Primary, Consett; Shotton Primary; Fence Houses Woodlea Primary; Tudhoe Colliery Primary; St Andrew's Primary, Bishop Auckland; St Thomas More RC Primary, Belmont; Ushaw Moor Junior; Sugar Hill Primary, Newton Aycliffe.