It's time to get your bike out or put your walking boots on to prove your green credentials.

Or at least that's what town centre and council bosses hope will be the case on Monday, September 22, when people will be encouraged leave their cars at home and find an alternative, more environmentally-friendly way of travelling to work.

It is one of many events being planned as part of Maidstone Goes Green Week.

The week, from Monday, June 23, to Friday, June 27, will feature a number of events in the town and will also promote the car-free day later in the year.

Organisations involved include Town Centre Management, Maidstone council, KCC, the town’s shopping centres and bus companies.

Jacqui Elliot, a travel planner with KCC’s sustainable transport department, said: “The 'in town without my car day’ is aiming for a 10 per cent reduction in all traffic coming into Maidstone.

“It was inspired by the recent Channel 4 programme The Woman Who Stops Traffic, where an 11 per cent reduction in town centre traffic was achieved in Durham.

“We thought if it could be done there, why couldn’t it be done in Maidstone?”

People who live within two miles of their workplace will be encouraged to walk or cycle to work. Those who live further away could use the bus, train or park-and-ride services.

Other ideas include displays of the new recycling bins – which replace the old, single litter bins and now allow people to separate their waste when they deposit it – reduced bus travel prices and a carrier bag exchange for a bag for life at The Mall Chequers.

Town centre manager Bill Moss said: “Between now and September there are so many national events it’s easy to get lost. We are drawing everything together to create something for Maidstone.”