THOUSANDS of energetic youngsters across East Lancashire are this week pounding the pavements as part of Walk to School Week.

Two thirds of the schools in the region are taking part in the county-wide initiative, organised by Lancashire County Council and TravelWise.

Participating schools can win a £1,000 computer, with those who "do something different" for the week having a better chance of scooping the prize. Pupils at Spring Hill County Primary, Accrington, have thought up a series of zany stunts.

They will be walking in odd shoes, wearing their coats back to front and wearing hats on the different days of this week to draw attention to what they are doing. Another keen participant is parent Judith Artingstoll, whose children attend Simonstone County Primary School.

She was sponsored to walk four miles from her home in Hapton to the school today with her daughter Emily, eight, and five-year-old Elliott and hopes to raise more than £100.

There were three walk to school days held last year, but this is the first week-long event in the region and an estimated 200,000 children in Lancashire are taking part. Yvonne Salt, TravelWise assistant responsible for the event, said: "The week aims to encourage people to use their cars less, helps children get more exercise, cuts down the amount of vehicles parked outside schools and reduces teatime congestion and pollution.

"It also gives children who normally travel by car an opportunity to put the Green Cross Code into practice."

But she added: "It is important that children walk with the supervision of an adult."

Other schools in East Lancashire taking part include: Audley and Intack Primary Schools, Blackburn; Great Harwood County Primary; Hyndburn Park, Accrington, and Knuzden St Oswald's.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.