PARENTS and pupils have been forsaking their cars to join in the national Walk to School Week, launched by the Pedestrians Association and Travelwise.

Okehampton Primary School already has a virtual bus, led by a parent 'driver', which started 18 months ago and was the first in the county.

Parent Linda Mitchell said: 'We are all in a better mood when we have walked home on the virtual bus than when we have come home by car. There is none of the stress from driving and we've had time to chat about our day.'

Pupils and parents are able to make friends as they walk in crocodile formation, poisonous gases inhaled are less while walking than when in a car, there are fewer cars on the road to cause pollution and there is also financial saving.

Headteacher Brian Cunningham said that the school had gold and silver mounted trainer trophies which are awarded each year on International Walk to School Day in October to the classes which have made the most significant change in methods of getting to school.

'Bus' co-ordinator Helen Jarvis said: 'We hope to start up additional routes once the safety aspect has been assessed by Devon County Council. The idea has worked well for us.'

For some of our more rural schools, however, the idea is not so feasible. Carol Fills, a parent from Milton Abbot Primary School, said: 'It would be great in principle, but most of our children would have to walk along dangerous roads with no pavements. My own would have to walk along an A class road with speeding cars. About 90 pupils are bussed to our school, some from seven miles away.

'But some village children do walk - and there are two families who jog to school, complete with pushchairs!'

Tavistock Primary School is always keen to promote walking to school because of parking difficulties.

Deputy head, Carol Trentham said: 'The new canal bridge has made great improvements for pupils from this end of town in that respect. We also encourage parents to park at the Riverside car park, where we have concessionary parking, and walk from there.'

The school also has been involved in the provision of a walking bus.

One of the main benefits of walking to school is the improvement in the health of pupils. Department of Health statistics show that at 6 years of age 32 percent of all boys and girls in England are overweight or obese, rising to 48 per cent at age 15.

Even walking on just two or three days a week can make a marked difference.

Phil Burnage, a teacher at St Rumon's School in Tavistock, where parents and pupils continue to be enthusiastic about their virtual bus, confirmed that the children arrived wide-awake and ready for learning.

Devon County Council has advice on setting up virtual bus services. For more information ring their Road Safety Helpline on 01392 382590 or e-mail them at [email protected]">[email protected].

l The success of St Rumon's virtual bus has meant fame for four pupils who will be appearing on Carlton TV tomorrow (Friday) to talk about it. Thea and Flora Dickinson and Patrick and Louis Ferguson, who are pictured (Left to right) making a road safety point with Flotsam and Jetsam at the studios. All enjoy their walk to school and Louis said: 'We learn to cross the road safely and see all our friends.' Thea and Flora added: 'It's good to get fresh air before school.'

The visit to the television studios with 'lots of cameras' has left them all wanting careers in TV or on the stage, so watch this space!