CHILDREN have been putting their best foot forward to get to school.

As part of national walk to school week, from May 17 to 21, Worcestershire County Council is encouraging parents and pupils to leave the car at home and walk to school.

About 10,000 pupils from 42 first, primary and middle schools across the county will join thousands more across the country.

Each of the schools taking part will receive a resource pack which includes class wall charts, posters, stickers and pupil walking passports.

Even those pupils who live too far from their school to walk the whole way are encouraged to take part by having a go at parkand- stride – with parents finding somewhere away from the school to park so that their children can walk the rest of the way.

Councillor Derek Prodger, the council’s cabinet member for transport and safe environment, said: “Walk to school week is an excellent opportunity for our schools to promote walking to school as the healthy, environmentally friendly alternative to the school run.”

Over the past two decades, the number of children who walk to school has dropped from 62 per cent to 48 per cent.