SCHOOLCHILDREN in Durham are encouraging their parents to take part in a new twist on a popular park-and- ride transport project.

The campaign to "park and stride'' is the idea of the school council at St Godric's RC Primary School, in Framwellgate Moor.

Led by pupils Lucy Russell and Paul Wallace, the project aims to cut the number of vehicles parked outside the school by dropping off children further from the school and walking the final distance.

The first park-and-stride venture was launched yesterday and will continue every Friday.

Pupils and parents are also being urged to join one of the three walking buses for their journeys to school, while those who travel by bus are being dropped off at a different location to allow children to walk through the school grounds.

The aim is to involve all the parents and pupils in the initiative, which highlights the benefits of regular exercise, social interaction and increased road safety awareness.

Headteacher Christine Coxon said: "I'm very proud of the children who, led by the school council, are making a genuine commitment to a healthy lifestyle and care of their environment through the park and stride initiative.''

Councillor Bob Pendlebury, cabinet member at Durham County Council for transport, said: "Park and stride is an excellent example of an initiative that supports St Godric's travel plan.

"The school is promoting choice. By walking for all, or part of the journey, they are demonstrating that there are more environmentally acceptable alternatives than inappropriate car use.''