HUNDREDS of East Cambridgeshire youngsters put their best feet forward and stepped out to join in the national Walk to School event. Youngsters from Ely s St Johns, St Mary s and the Lantern Primary Schools, Fordham Primary School, Soham s Weatheralls Pri

HUNDREDS of East Cambridgeshire youngsters put their best feet forward and stepped out to join in the national Walk to School event.

Youngsters from Ely's St Johns, St Mary's and the Lantern Primary Schools, Fordham Primary School, Soham's Weatheralls Primary School and Burwell Village College supported the initiative billed as Join the Adventure.

Cambridgeshire County Council's safer routes to school team was inundated with requests from schools to take part in the special event staged to help promote the benefits of walking to school, including reducing congestion and improving health and safety.

Schools received resource packs funded by the county council which included stickers, bookmarks and posters to help promote walking as a healthier alternative to using the car on the home to school journey.

Kirsty Gilliland, county council school travel advisor, said she was overwhelmed by response to the event.

She said: "Usually we order enough resources for 500 packs but this year I have been inundated with requests and have had to order an extra 250 packs to try to cope with demand. It's fantastic that over 22,000 children will be taking part."

"There are so many benefits to walking the home to school journey, from improved road safety awareness of children, increased daily exercise and a chance to chat to friends on the way. Congestion at the school gate is also greatly reduced, thereby making the school environment much less polluted."

Pictured, Jessica (front) with Maisie, Elli Rai, Jake, Lewis, Rhiannon and Jessica from St Andrew's School in Soham.

Photo: HELEN DRAKE