PUPILS and their parents are urged to put their best foot forward during National Walk to School Week.

The aim is to promote health and to get cars off the road, leading to less congestion, pollution and danger.

The council's road safety unit is helping to promote the week, which runs from September 30 to October 4. It will be launched locally on Saturday September 21 in conjunction with "European Car Free Day", which is being held in Market Place, Bury from 10am-4pm.

Councillor Stella Smith, executive member for environment and transport, said: "The school run accounts for a large proportion of rush-hour traffic and causes congestion, pollution and danger outside most schools.

"If more families walk to school, communities would enjoy the environmental and health benefits associated with fewer vehicles on the roads."

Coun Smith added: "Children can walk with friends and groups of parents could collect children en route to school, similar to a walking bus. Children who are driven to school could be dropped off several hundred metres away from school to reduce congestion around it.

"Cars parked outside school, even for a couple of seconds, can block a child's vision when they try to cross the road. Drivers forget that children do not have the same visual ability as an adult."

The road safety unit will be sending information to every primary school child in the days leading up to Walk to School Week.

For more details, contact the unit on 253 5785/6/7, e-mail roadsafety@bury.gov.uk or visit the European Car Free Day in Bury.