Excited Rainham youngsters started their school day with a birthday party to mark the seventh anniversary of their walking bus.

Thames View Primary School offers pupils three walking bus routes and currently has 80 pupils regularly hopping on board. The school’s walking bus birthday breakfast has become a highly anticipated annual event to celebrate the success of the scheme.

Joining the festivities were KM Walking Bus mascot Sam as well as supporters of the scheme Chris Atkinson from Specsavers, Gillingham and Leah Horne from Three R’s Teacher Recruitment. They brought goodies for the children who tucked in to a tasty breakfast and Easter eggs provided by the school and played games including pass the parcel.

Walk to school coordinator Sarah Horne said: “We are very proud that we have a long established walking bus scheme that our children enjoy being a part of. The party is an annual celebration to thank all of the children for helping to take care of the world around us.”

Walking bus is part of the KM Walk to School initiative led by Kent County Council and Medway Council and supported by organisations including Ashford Borough Council, Canterbury City Council, Maidstone Borough Council, Thanet District Council, Orbit South, Golding Vision (part of Golding Homes), Westwood Cross, Southern Water, Countrystyle, Eurostar, Whitefriars shopping area, Leeds Castle and Mini Babybel.

Simon Dolby, chief executive of KM Walk to School, said: “Walking bus offers a safe, healthy and eco-friendly way for pupils to get to school – and the children love it.

“I’m delighted that Thames View’s walking bus has been going strong for seven years helping pupils to develop healthy habits, cutting traffic congestion and improving safety at the school gates.”

For more information or for schools wanting to register for KM Walk to School projects including walking bus, Walk on Wednesday (WOW), Active Bug and Green Footsteps, visit www.kmwalktoschool.co.uk or call 0844 2640291.