COUNTY schools are set to benefit from thousands of pounds of Government cash to encourage pupils to walk to schools.

Thirty-six schools across Worcestershire have been given either £1,000 or £500 yearly grants to create walking schemes such as walking buses next term The cash is part of a national scheme which gives £1,000 for up to three years if schools successfully re-apply for the grants for walking buses and other walking schemes. The travelling to school project aims to reduce car-use for journeys to school.

Grants will mainly be used to employ walking bus co-ordinators and also for providing schoolchildren with high-visibility jackets and other costs associated with walking buses. Madresfield and St James Primary Schools, in Malvern, have already benefited from £1,000 each and county council officers expect to see the number of walking buses across the Worcestershire triple.