PARENTS left their cars at home and jumped aboard "walking buses" with their children.

The buses have adult "drivers" at the front and adult "conductors" bringing up the rear.

The children walk to school in a group along a set route picking up additional passengers at specific bus-stops along the way.

To mark national Walk to School Week, Horwich Parish School laid on three walking buses to take children safely to school.

The scheme has earned the school an award from Bolton Council.

For the past two years, Horwich Parish has been putting together a travel plan to ease congestion around the school and to get children on the road to a healthier lifestyle.

Parent Alison Macleod, who is a member of the school's travel group, said: "We decided to look at ways of trying to encourage parents and pupils to walk to school. The walking buses take place twice a year and we had more children than ever taking part."

Mrs Macleod who walks her children, Calum, aged eight, and Ellen, aged six, the half-mile to school every day, added: "We have a very good relationship with Horwich Leisure Centre who allow parents to park and then walk to school, which has become known as the park and stride scheme'.

"We have also set up a green zone around the school where parents are asked not to park for the safety of the children."

The school used a £5,000 grant from the council to improve pedestrian access to the rear of the school. The class with the most pupils walking to school will receive the Golden Boot Award.