PUPILS from three secondary schools and 11 primary schools have received civic praise - and cheques - for org-anising their own green ways to school.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council Mayor Councillor Peter Spencer presented more than £77,000 in cheques, varying from £4,000 to £11,000, to schools that successfully completed school travel plans.

The council is aiming for 90 per cent of schools to have travel plans by 2010.

The council's cabinet member for strategic planning, development and infrastructure, Councillor Eric Empson, said: "This is the second year of the awards and we've now got 26 schools with travel plans, promoting journeys on sustainable transport to schools."

The successful schools are: (secondary) Bydales, Gillbrook, Nunthorpe; (primary) St Mary's RC, St Joseph's RC, Lockwoood, Ings Farm, Badger Hill, Cromwell Road, Beech Grove, Lakes, Normanby, Belmont, Coatham.