HOLD tight - it's another record for the Walking Bus in Kent.

Just when rain and a chill wind looked like it might defeat the attempt, schoolchildren from Medway and youngsters from all over the county arrived in force in Canterbury city centre on Saturday morning.

After all, these are the youngsters who, with their volunteer supervisors, walk to school in all weathers every day.

The organisers needed more than 220 children to break last year's record for the biggest walking bus - and they did it - just.

The headcount revealed 225 children and marked another landmark for the project which has grown from strength to strength since it was first started four years ago.

Its aim from the outset was to enable young children to walk safely to school, not only helping them to keep fit but also reducing traffic congestion caused by the 'school run'.

Chairman of the KM Walking Bus project, Simon Dolby announced the new record to the children and volunteers on the forecourt of the Marlowe Theatre where they had assembled after marching through the city centre.

But he said he was equally delighted to reveal that the number of children now using the walking bus scheme in schools across Kent had grown to more than 2,000.

Among the guests on Saturday was Edwin Boorman, the chairman of the Kent Messenger Group which backs the project.

He congratulated the children on their record and Simon Dolby and the scheme volunteers for developing the project which he said was so beneficial to children and the community.

Also there to meet and congratulate the children was the Lord Mayor of Canterbury, Marion Attwood.

Contingents from Medway's St William of Perth School, Gordon and Deanwood schools were out in force at the record attempt.

While every child received a goodie bag, there were presentations to several schools for various achievements.

Minster school in Thanet was acknowledged for being the oldest scheme having just celebrated its seventh birthday.

But there were first and second and fourth year certificates to St Martin's Horn Street school in Folkestone, Sturry School and Briary School respectively.

The Whitstable joint schools Walking Bus of St Alphege, the Endowed and Whitstable Junior won a £100 voucher from the Denne Group for having the best banner.

Blean School near Canterbury had the biggest single attendance while Gateway School from Dartford had the highest percentage of children from their scheme present.

The generous support of several sponsors, including Medway-based Ringway, and the Denne Group, also provided goodies for the prize draw.

Madeline Chainey of mhs community charity presented a football signed by Gillingham Football players to Maxine Standen of Herne Bay for winning the T-shirt prize draw. All those buying a Big Bus T-shirt when into the hat to win the prize.

Ryan Wigmore, 7, from Deanwood School in Medway won a PlayStation 2 donated by Ringway.