A FESTIVAL to encourage children and parents to take a healthier journey to school is being held in Darlington this Friday.

Team Local Motion are organising the Mega Friday Festival which will see a variety of activities take place in the town centre, including Nordic walking, trampolining, tri-golf and street dancing.

Children will be challenged to make a travel-inspired Easter Bonnet, while visitors can also get their bikes and scooters security marked and receive free bike lights and locks.

There will be a variety of information stalls, plus weird and wacky bikes and 1980’s themed PE teachers, Mr Stretch and Mr Armstrong, who will be urging the public to get put their backs into getting healthy.

The festival is part of Darlington Borough Council’s Mega Motion campaign, to encourage pupils and parents to leave their cars behind every Friday and walk, cycle or scoot to school.

Councillor Andy Scott, Darlington Council’s cabinet member for health said: "With childhood obesity coming under increasing scrutiny it is essential that we begin to change habits from an early age.

“We all need to take responsibility for our own health and find some form of exercise that fits into our lifestyles.”

Councillor Nick Wallis, cabinet member for Leisure, added: “The MEGA Friday Festival is a great opportunity for families to find out how to get fit and stay healthy in fun ways.”

Activities in the Market Square will take place between 11am and 3pm, and in the Dolphin Centre from 12.30 to 2.30pm.