A scheme to get more children walking or wheeling to school has been hailed a success as the number of primaries taking part has almost doubled.

In January Blackburn with Darwen Council launched the ‘WOW’ project, which is run by charity Living Streets and sees children self-report how they get to school every day using the interactive WOW Travel Tracker.

By travelling sustainably (walking/wheeling, cycling, or by scooter) once a week for a month, they get rewarded with a badge.

Initially, nine primary schools took part but now the local authority has revealed that number has risen to 16.

The benefits of WOW include improving child safety and air quality and cutting congestion by reducing traffic around schools, and instilling healthy habits in children by encouraging them to travel actively to school, getting much-needed exercise.

Since Blackburn with Darwen borough’s schools began participating in the project, more than 130,000 active travel journeys have been logged by more than 4,000 pupils.

Overall active travel rates to school have shown an increase of 30 per cent, along with a nearly 30 per cent decrease in those using the car to travel all the way to school.

With fewer vehicles on the road and therefore fewer emissions, the project is an important step to reducing the borough’s impact on the climate.

Cllr Quesir Mahmood, Blackburn with Darwen Council's deputy leader, said: "It’s so encouraging to see children take a lead on increasing the amount of physical activity they do.

"Walking or wheeling to school is an easy way to do that and I thank Living Streets for the work it has done so far across the borough.

"There’s no reason why all the borough’s primary schools can’t take part, and I look forward to seeing the numbers increase."

The 16 schools currently taking part in the WOW project are:

  • Audley Junior School;
  • Cedars Primary School;
  • Daisyfield Primary School;
  • St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy, Darwen;
  • Longshaw Community Junior School;
  • Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School primary department;
  • Roe Lee Park Primary School;
  • St Antony’s RC Primary School;
  • St Barnabas and St Paul’s Cof E Voluntary Aided Primary School;
  • St Cuthbert’s Cof E Primary School;
  • St James’ CofE Primary School, Stopes Brow;
  • St James’ CofE Primary School, Earl Street;
  • St Joseph’s RC Primary School, Darwen;
  • St Luke and St Philips CofE Primary School;
  • St Stephen’s CofE Primary School;
  • Sudell Primary School.