Hundreds of school children from across the county kick-started national summer Walk to School Week in style by breaking a new record on Saturday.

The children and their families paraded through the streets of Canterbury city centre as part of the Walk to School mini festival Buster’s Big Bash.

Waving home-made flags and banners, and singing as they strolled, they created the largest ever walking ‘Crocodile’ to pass through a Kent street this year.

The annual free event is designed to thank hard-working pupils involved with KM Charity Team green travel and literacy schemes including Walk on Wednesday (WoW), Active Bug, Walking Bus, Green Footsteps, and Buster’s Book Club.

Staged at the Dane John Gardens, Canterbury, participants enjoyed an array of fun and physical activities including pedal go-karting, space hoppers, ‘Beat the Goalie’ and even a circus school.

Youngsters also engaged in two record-breaking attempts: the largest Teddy Bears Picnic and the aforementioned walking ‘Crocodile’. The record-smashing walking bus boasted 327 people, beating last year’s figure by five.

Buster Bug himself waved off the walkers and had some extra help from Build-A-Bear Workshop’s mascot Bearemy and Gerald the Giraffe of Golding Homes too. Children were also delighted to get up close and personal with iconic Disney character Anna from Frozen and Pirate Billy from Princess World during the day.

The Lord Mayor of Canterbury Cllr Sally Waters took the honour of judging the Best Dressed Teddy competition as well as getting active on a number of the games stations located throughout the park. Pearl, six, and Sheldon Nolan, five of Joy Lane Primary School, Whitstable and Leane Chaipa, seven, of St. Thomas’ Primary School were named the lucky winners, each receiving a special gift from Build-A-Bear Workshop.

Clio Wreham, seven, of Bridge and Patrixbourne CEP Primary School, Canterbury won the Lucky Programme contest, receiving a selection of music lesson vouchers from Your Music School (YMS) and a family day trip to Chatham Historic Dockyard. Felix Ball, five, of Westmeads Primary School, Whitstable took home an awesome LEGO City set courtesy of Fenwick after winning the Best Flag Competition.

Kent Fire and Rescue grabbed attention by providing two fire engines on-site and enabled children to play firefighter for the day by getting hands-on with equipment.

Kent Sport manned the space hopper racing and offered children the chance to express their feelings about sporting activities with their #MySportyStory emoji photoframe. Kent Wildlife Trust got their hands dirty over at the Nectar Bar which provided participants an area to plant and grow, whilst Canterbury Cricket Club, Silver Blades Ice Rink and Canterbury Eagles Under 11s FC served up the perfect areas to hone in on sport skills.

McDonald’s Canterbury supplied everyone with delicious fruit bags and refreshments following the walk, Storyboppers showed children the wonders of the great outdoor with a creative station, and Paul Incredible of Kinetic Circus wowed audiences with his dazzling circus show which boasted duel diablo tossing, cigar box balancing and advanced hula hooping.

Simon Dolby, chief executive of the KM Charity Team which organises the event, said: “Buster’s Big Bash is going from strength-to-strength and we are so pleased to have broken another record in 2016. Our walking bus was loud and proud as we ventured through Canterbury, and it was a delight to see some children engaged with the various stations across the gardens."

He added: "We are truly grateful to all the support from our key partners involved with the event who help us to make days like this possible for our devoted Walk to School and literacy pupils.”

The event was supported by Kent County Council, Canterbury City Council, Medway Council, Ashford Borough Council, Maidstone Borough Council, Specsavers, Orbit South, Countrystyle Recycling, Mini Babybel, Kent Sport, Kent Wildlife Trust, Your Music School (YMS), Golding Vision (Part of Golding Homes), Silver Blades Ice Rink, Build-A-Bear Workshop, McDonalds, Whitefriars Canterbury, Kinetic Circus, Storyboppers, Princess World, Kent Fire and Rescue, Canterbury Cricket Club, Canterbury Eagles FC, Atlantis Go Karts, Independent Music Productions, Fenwick, Theatre Trips Kent and BEAR Nibbles.

For more information about how your school can get involved with KM Walk to School and Buster’s Book Club, contact the KM Charity Team on 0844 264 0291 or email Simon Dolby atsdolby@thekmgroup.co.uk