PUPILS from a Wirral school have helped launch a new campaign aimed at tackling traffic congestion.

Pupils from Oxton St Saviours Primary School, in Oxton, are taking part in Living Streets' Walk Once a Week (WoW) campaign.

Under the Park and Stride initiative, they will be rewarded with collectable badges for each month they regularly walk to school.

The nearby Sainsbury's and Queen's Arms Public House have provided car parking spaces for parents can park before walking the rest of their journey to the school, which it is hoped will cut congestion around Holm Lane.

The school is one of 15 taking part in the project this year, which is led by Wirral Council and Living Streets, a national charity.

According to Living Streets, the number of primary school children who walk to school has dropped from 56 per cent to 47 per cent over the past decade. Forty-three per cent are now driven to school.

Living Streets' project co-ordinator Katherine Culshaw said: "The WoW campaign is not only a fantastic way to help children reach the recommended daily 60 minutes of physical activity, but it's also an opportunity for parents and carers to spend some quality time with their children and teach important road safety skills for the future."
 

Rebecca Steele, a teacher at the school and its WoW champion, said: "The children and their families are extremely keen to be involved in the Walk Once a Week campaign.

"We have already seen a rise in the number of children walking to school, which is not only beneficial in providing a form of physical exercise, but also helps with lessening traffic around the school gates.

"The School's Council has been involved in the planning and running of the campaign, as it feels that there are many benefits to be had from walking to school."