It was a double celebration for Gillingham families at the grand opening of the Salvation Army Little Eden Preschool and its new walking bus.

They gathered with teachers and green travel supporters Claire Harris from Medway Council, Chris Atkinson and Joanna Wyndham of Specsavers and Buster Bug for a ribbon cutting ceremony at Gillingham Baptist Church.

The Salvation Army Gillingham Corps organised the event for the official launch of its second and newest preschool in the area, which opened in September, and associated walking bus service.

Twenty two families are using the new Little Eden Preschool walking bus while 45 families are hopping aboard the walking bus to the Salvation Army Preschool.

Amanda Harmer, Salvation Army preschools manager, said the walking bus helps youngsters to get more fresh air and exercise and learn how to be safe when they cross the road.

Mrs Harmer added: “Children enjoy walking and enjoy being on the walking bus together. They understand that it’s also about looking after each other and working as a team.”

Walking Bus is part of the KM Walk to School campaign, which succeeded in removing more than 250,000 car journeys from the county’s roads last academic year.

Organisations supporting the campaign include Kent County Council, Ashford Borough Council, Maidstone Borough Council, Orbit South, Golding Vision (part of Golding Homes), Leeds Castle, Circle Housing Russet, Whitefriars shopping area, Safer Kent, Bexley Council, Eurostar, Three R’s Teacher Recruitment and Mini Babybel.

Karen Brinkman of KM Walk to School said: “It’s always a pleasure to see a new walking bus service take off. They help children to associate exercise with having fun and sow the seeds for a healthy lifestyle from a young age. Plus of course the community benefits from safer, less congested roads.”

Schools interested in having green travel in place for 2016 can still sign up for walk to school projects including Walk on Wednesday (WOW), Active Bug and Green Footsteps. Click here to complete the online enquiry form or call 0844 2640291.