Primary school children across the county have become green travel champions after hitting their target for removing school run car journeys from local roads this academic year.

The KM Walk to School campaign which includes schemes Walk on Wednesday (WOW), Walking Bus, Active Bug ans Green Footsteps has officially removed a huge 200,000 car journeys, helping to preserve and protect the environment, as well as making busy roads safer.

Matt Trusty, Specsavers Kent Chairman and Walk to School Ambassador, is keen to praise the small army of families walking, cycling and using scooters to travel to school.

Mr Trusty said: “We are delighted to announce that 40,000 families involved in the KM Walk to School campaign have hit their target and removed a towering 200,000 school run journeys from Kent and Medway’s roads. Specsavers is passionate about encouraging members of the community to partake in walk to school schemes, as they get children fit and healthy, as well as providing essential road safety skills.”

He added: “We send huge congratulations to the schools, pupils and families involved.”

In 2015, KM Walk to School schemes helped to remove more than a quarter million vehicles from Kent, Medway and Bexley’s roads. The services also saw a reduction in harmful carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to 10 times the weight of Big Ben.

Schools are always welcome to get involved with the services which includes the new Super WOW!. The schemes provide incentives to keep children engaged with their walking including stickers, trophies and prizes such as ice skating tickets. To join, visit www.kmwalktoschool.co.uk

Children involved with the initiatives benefit from a healthier lifestyle as well as gaining vital road safety skills, whilst schools enjoy safer gates and significantly lower levels of traffic congestion, plus reductions in air and noise pollution.

Simon Dolby, chief executive at the KM Charity Team which organises green travel schemes, said: “We are so proud of our hard-working schools who have reached their target before the summer holidays arrive. Their efforts are truly helping the environment as well as granting them with vital life skills. We also like to take this opportunity to thank Spescsavers for their prolonged support of KM Walk to School.”

The partnership operates green travel initiatives for schools including parent-led walking buses, Walk on Wednesday (WOW) / Super WOW!, Active Bug and Green Footsteps.

As well as Specsavers, the Walk to School campaign is supported by Mini Babybel, Orbit South, Golding Homes, Three R’s Teacher Recruitment Agency, Eurostar, Kent County Council, Medway Council and Bexley Council.