A GROUP of pupils has been on a fact-finding mission to learn how to spend thousands of pounds to make their trip to school safer.

The youngsters from Eastbourne School, in Darlington, were invited to meet officials from Sustrans - the charity that encourages people to walk or cycle, rather than use a car.

The school has been awarded £50,000 to help it improve facilities for its pupils to cycle and walk.

It was one of just five schools in the country to be awarded a grant from Sustrans in January.

The pupils visited York to consider aspects of the safer routes to school scheme they are to implement.

They talked about traffic safety, the results of surveys on travelling to school and ways to promote walking and cycling to young people.

Among the initiatives the children could spend the money on are creating traffic-free routes around the school and buying bike sheds.

As well as meeting the experts from Sustrans, the children met representatives of York City Council who have already implemented some safer route schemes.

Paul Osborne, Sustrans' Safer Routes to Schools programme director, said: "This was a great opportunity for these young people to see for themselves how routes to school can be improved.

"We hope that they will share their experience with fellow pupils and local councillors on their return."