AN award-winning children’s road safety project has received a massive boost with the announcement that Kent highway maintenance firm Ringway will donate £55,000 to the charity over the coming five years.

The Kent Walking Bus Project, which supports parent groups and schools to set up and operate organised walks to school, will receive £11,000 a year as part of Ringway’s support.

The firm will also continue to provide additional backing for a range of community events staged by the charity to promote the benefits of Walking Buses to families.

As well as teaching children road safety skills, Walking Buses reduce school run traffic in the streets around participating schools. In 2005 the charity received a national Green Apple environment award as well as The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Ringway regional director Jerry Pert announced the sponsorship deal at a celebration event staged by the Walking Bus Project at County Hall which was attended by 50 guests including the Chief Constable Michael Fuller, KM president Edwin Boorman and KCC Highways chief Cllr Keith Ferrin.

Mr Fuller told guests he valued tremendously the role Walking Buses play in teaching children vital road safety skills.

He said: "Many of my Superintendents support the project in their areas using funds provided by the sale of unclaimed lost property which the charity uses to pay for tabards to help new 'buses' launch.

"Many individual officers have played a key role in encouraging schools to set up Walking Buses. I am personally delighted to give my support to this excellent initiative."

Cllr Ferrin announced an agreement had been signed by KCC and the Walking Bus Project to forge closer ties between the two organisations.

He said: "KCC is extremely pleased the collaboration we have with the Kent Walking Bus Project has been strengthened."

Edwin Boorman, president of the KM Group and an honorary patron of the Walking Bus Project, thanked the sponsors attending the event for enabling the charity to expand its services countywide over the last 18 months.

Charity chairman Simon Dolby said: "Ringway have been fantastic and are always at the heart of any initiative or event we are involved in. We now have 60 Walking Buses serving 1,500 children in Kent and that success is to a large extent down to the commitment of Ringway."

As well as the KM Group, the project is sponsored by Denne Construction, Cleanaway, Pfizer, Co-op and mhs community charity.

* For information on how to set up a Walking Bus or details on sponsoring the charity go to www.kentwalkingbus.org or call Neville Dack on 0797 097 9004.