Trained parents supervise the walking children

Neville's Cross Primary School has had a walking bus in place for the past six months, organised by parents.

Two more routes are being launched on Tuesday to celebrate International Walk to School Week.

Durham County Council road safety and school travel planning teams have helped to support the walking buses.

"Neville's Cross Primary will be the only school in the county to have two walking buses and it's thought to be the only one in the whole country to have three running at the same time," Councillor Bob Pendlebury said.

'Carefully supervised'

"The first walking bus has been sustained over six months and is all down to the hard work of parents, who volunteer their help, organise rotas and make sure the bus operates in both rain and shine."

Walking bus co-ordinator Clare Holliman said the scheme reduces congestion.

She said: "The short walk to school blows away the cobwebs in readiness for the start of the school day and the children gain valuable road safety skills whilst being carefully supervised by trained parent volunteers."

The current walking bus runs from the Pot and Glass pub car park and the two new ones will operate from Stonebridge pub car park on Tuesdays and Thursdays initially, and from the Duke of Wellington for this week only.