PARENTS left their cars at home for the day to take their children to a village primary school.

Teachers at High Coniscliffe Primary School, near Darlington, organised a Giant Walking Bus event yesterday to coincide with a national initiative.

It was the second time the school has taken part in such a venture this year. It helped to promote walking, a healthy lifestyle and raises awareness of road safety.

Staff from Darlington Borough Council's Team Local Motion helped.

A total of 47 parents and children took part.

Headteacher Wendy Aitken said, because of the village location, only five pupils walk to school each day.

The walking bus picked up pupils from locations at Baydale Beck, in Merrybent, and High Coniscliffe. Those taking part either left the car at home or only drove part-way to school.

Miss Aitken said: "We only have a few people who walk to school. Because we cannot all walk on a daily basis we wanted to promote walking as a great thing for the children to do."

The event also helped to teach the children about road safety. Until recently, the speed limit outside the school was 60mph, but it has been reduced to 30mph.

Miss Aitken said the school supported Darlington's 20's Plenty campaign to further decrease the speed limit to 20mph.