CHILDREN are walking to school this week to improve their health.

Walking buses, giant storybooks and village trails have been devised in County Durham as part of national Walk to School Week.

The county is one of only five areas around the country selected to introduce the campaign.

Children from Chester-le-Street Primary and nearby South Pelaw infants began the campaign on earlier in the week.

They have also written a jingle about the benefits of walking to school.

Participating children are building a giant jigsaw storybook on the theme of The Walk to School Adventure Story, in their school playgrounds.

The baton was passed to Crook Primary School, who walked from a supermarket in the town to school.

Today, Etherley Lane Primary School, in Bishop Auckland, continues the campaign, while pupils at Cotherstone Primary School, in Teesdale, go on a Tots on Tour observation trail round the village green, ending with a picnic.

Murton County Primary and Murton Jubilee Primary schools, in east Durham, go on an observation trail, led by Olympic swimming silver medallist Nick Gillingham, tomorrow.

There is another Tots on Tour trail, from Craghead Children's Centre, to the Millennium Green, in Craghead, near Stanley, on Friday.

Councillor Bob Pendlebury, Durham County Council cabinet member for transport and sustainability, said: "The aim is to encourage children and parents to look at their local surroundings and use their own green spaces."