STOCKTON-ON-TEES Borough Council is encouraging schoolchildren across the Borough to get active and celebrate the benefits of walking to school.
Walk To School Week starts today (19 October) in Stockton Borough, to coincide with International Walk to School Month.
More than 6,000 primary school pupils from across the Borough will join forces with children in more than 40 countries worldwide.
They hope to raise awareness of the advantages of walking to school rather than using a car which include health benefits and a reduction in traffic congestion and pollution around schools.
Councillor David Rose, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, said: “Walking to school, rather than being taken in a car, can be so beneficial for our children and young people in terms of their levels of physical activity and general wellbeing.
“Walking outside in the fresh air is healthy, fun and free. I would like to congratulate all of our schoolchildren taking part and I hope that for many it is a change that they make permanent as a lifestyle choice.”
Each child walking to a participating school in the Borough will be entered into a draw to win one of three pairs of tickets to the opening night of Goldilocks and The Amazing Bears pantomime – kindly donated by the Forum Theatre in Billingham.