Walk to school fever is spreading to Bexley with two more schools signing up to an award-winning green travel scheme.

Willow Bank and Northumberland Heath primary schools have joined the KM Walk to School campaign. The schools held special assemblies to formally launch their new commitment to eco-friendly travel and help pupils to understand the benefits of walking to school.

The campaign is run by the KM Group’s charity department and includes appealing projects to entice pupils to walk or cycle to school instead of being driven by car. These include Walk on Wednesday (WOW), Active Bug and Green Footsteps. Resources such as charts, stickers, trophies and competitions all help to keep pupils enthused all year.

Simon Dolby, chief executive of the KM Charity Team, was guest speaker at both school assemblies and announced the schools will be taking part in the KM Walk to School Triple Challenge.

The challenge requires pupils to compete for the Green Class of the Week Trophy as well as monthly inter-school green travel contests to win exciting prizes. To top it off the academic year concludes with a record attempt for all participating schools to collectively achieve the biggest number of school run car journeys off the road.

Mr Dolby said: “I’m so pleased that Bexley schools are cottoning on to the benefits of the humble walk to school. We have hundreds of Kent and Medway schools taking part and they helped to remove more than 250,000 car journeys from the road last academic year.

“Green travel tackles major issues that can’t be ignored: child obesity, traffic congestion and pollution, and safety at the school gate during peak school run times.”

Bexley schools now embracing walk to school include East Wickham Primary Academy, St Fidelis Catholic Primary, Days Lane Primary, Gravel Hill Primary, Jubilee Primary, Belmont Primary, West Lodge, St Stephen’s Catholic Primary, Longlands Primary and Peareswood Primary.

The campaign is kept affordable for schools through the support of organisations including Bexley Council, Kent County Council, Medway Council, Circle Housing Russet, Whitefriars shopping area, Safer Kent, Eurostar, Ashford Borough Council, Maidstone Borough Council, Golding Vision (part of Golding Homes), Leeds Castle, Specsavers, Three R’s Teacher Recruitment, Mini Babybel and Orbit South.

Schools have until Thursday, December 17 to join the campaign by contacting Louise Rogerson on lrogerson@thekmgroup.co.uk or 0844 264 0291. Visit www.kmwalktoschool.co.uk or click on the links for Walk on Wednesday (WOW) or Active Bug.