PARENTS are being urged to leave the car at home this week and walk their children to school.

Nineteen primary schools across Middlesbrough have signed up to support Walk to School Week. Middlesbrough Council is hoping more than 5,000 youngsters will be escorted to school on foot.

Ros Pluck, the council's school travel plan coordinator, said: "Apart from the obvious health benefits of walking, Walk to School Week gives parents and carers the opportunity to teach children how to deal with the traffic environment - an essential for life.

"Leaving the car at home will not only help reduce pollution and congestion around our schools and save us money, it will do away with the stress of driving in the rush hour.''

Today, International Walk to School Day, 17 countries will be hoping parents will keep the car in the garage. Children and parents at Wilton Primary School walking to school today, will be rewarded with an international foods breakfast provided by the Asda South Bank store.