A SCHEME to make walking to school safer for Bidford children has been hailed a success.

Warwickshire County Council has said that the Bidford Safer Routes to School scheme (SRTS) has seen a 25 per cent increase in pupils walking to the Bramley Way school.

The scheme, introduced as part of the council's Local Transport Plan, saw footpaths linking the school to the surrounding housing estate improved and widened. Overhanging vegetation was also cleared.

The council has now outlined in its capital programme for transport for 2003-4, that it intends to invest substantially in similar schemes across the county.