Youngsters tackling traffic pollution and congestion in their towns have been named Green Champions.

The accolade was bestowed on school children taking the driving seat for promoting sustainable travel over car use to fellow pupils and their families.

The youngsters were from Kent schools signed up to the KM Walk to School campaign and had taken on a variety of tasks to create a buzz around green travel schemes including Walk on Wednesday (WOW) and Active Bug.

Winning pupils were commended at a presentation at Leeds Castle and received limited edition t-shirts. The schools were Blean Primary, Canterbury; St Mildred’s Primary, Broadstairs; Sevenoaks Primary; and Regis Manor Community Primary, Sittingbourne.

Pupil Emily Metivier from Blean Primary School said: “Our project was monitoring the car parking outside the school and we were giving help to parents and giving them parking tickets if they parked badly.”

Classmate Emmie Heath added: “We introduced this scheme to help tackle the parking havoc outside our school and to stop parents parking on the yellow zig-zags for child safety.”

Simon Dolby, chief executive of KM Walk to School, said: “School councils or eco committees are typically in the driving seat when it comes to the promotion of walking and cycling to school.

“We’re impressed by the many and varied ideas they use to champion green travel and improve safety at the school gate.”

Green Champions is part of the KM Walk to School campaign. To find out more, visit www.kmwalktoschool.co.uk. Click here to view photographs of the Leeds Castle summer school celebration.

KM Walk to School is a Kent County Council and Medway Council led initiative 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, Specsavers, Whitefriars shopping area, Leeds Castle, Three R’s Teacher Recruitment and Mini Babybel.