Pupils from six schools attended the Swale launch of a green travel drive to combat traffic congestion and air pollution.

School children descended on Swale Borough Council chambers for the launch of KM Green Champions and quizzed a panel of experts on how walk to school schemes can help to protect the environment.

The schools in attendance from Sheppey were Halfway Houses Primary, Queenborough Primary, West Minster Primary and Rose Street. Sittingbourne schools that made the trip were Bapchild and Tonge Primary, Grove Park Primary, Kemsley Primary Academy, South Avenue Infants, St Peter’s Catholic Primary and Regis Manor Community. The youngsters grilled a panel of experts on issues including traffic jams and air quality in the area.

Cllr Mike Whiting, cabinet member for localism, said: "It was a real pleasure chairing the launch. The young people were very interested in ways of reducing pollution and leading healthier lives and asked a lot of questions.

“They also had some good ideas for reducing parking outside of our schools and for getting more people to walk to school.”

He added: "I would also like to thank the KM Charity Team for such a worthwhile venture. Last year, their initiatives meant there were 208,000 fewer home to school car journeys than the year before, and I know the children of Swale will be doing their bit to break that record and make things that little bit safer and greener on our roads in the future."

Green Champions, which is part of the KM Walk to School initiative, puts youngsters in the driving seat to promote green travel. They take part in fun activities such as poster competitions to encourage families to ditch the car for more active means of getting to school. They also lead by example by walking or cycling to school as often as they can.

Groups of pupils that come up with the best Green Champion ideas can earn limited edition t-shirts.

The campaign is supported by Kent County Council, Medway Council, Ashford Borough Council, Canterbury City Council, Maidstone Borough Council, Thanet District Council, Three R’s Teacher Recruitment, Mini Babybel, Countrystyle Recycling, Specsavers, Eurostar, Chaucer Foundation, Southern Water, Orbit South, Golding Homes, Jelf Insurance Brokers, Leeds Castle, Independent Music Productions and Whitefriars shopping area.

Schools wanting to find out more about Green Champions or to register for KM Walk to School schemes including Walk on Wednesday (WOW), Active Bug or Green Footsteps should visit www.kmwalktoschool.co.uk or call 0844 264 0291.