SCHOOLCHILDREN in Lancashire are to be targeted in the latest phase of a campaign to encourage people to use public transport instead of cars.

More than 100,000 youngsters throughout the county will be receiving a county council leaflet as part of the authority's TravelWise Fun campaign.

The leaflet has been designed to educate pupils about transport and travel in a way that captures their interest, using humorous pictures and captions rather than facts and figures.

Councillor John West, the leader of the county council said: "TravelWise is an initiative which encourages people to use cars wisely because of traffic congestion and pollution.

"Although, of course, children do not drive, they are increasingly being transported by car where once they would have cycled or walked. "This means they are missing out for exercise and younger children are not practising road safety skills with an adult. They are also in danger of growing up believing the car is the only viable transport option."

Councillor Hazel Harding, chairman of the education committee added: "In many areas of Lancashire, schools are situated in places where it is safe and pleasant to walk or cycle to.

"However, we do appreciate that some schools are in more difficult areas where there is heavy traffic and dangerous to cross.

"The TravelWise option here is by using public transport. One bus can carry as many passengers as 20 cars but creates much less pollution.

"We want to encourage children to join together in either walking, cycling or using the bus to get to school."

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