A cycling course developed by road safety experts is on the cards for schoolchildren thanks to an £80,000 grant.

Medway Council successfully bid for the Government money under the nationwide Bikeability scheme.

The funding will support the National Cycle Training Standard launched in March 2007 and described as the cycling proficiency test for the 21st century.

The aim is to improve children’s essential road safety skills and give them greater awareness of dangers on the road.

Cllr Phil Filmer, portfolio holder for front-line services, said:“We will now be working hard to improve our cycling course and continue to encourage more kids to cycling in a bid to help reduce traffic congestion and get them healthier.”

Medway’s grant comes from a national total of more than £3 million for cycle training for nearly 80,000 school children by March 2009.