The streets were ablaze with luminous yellow jackets as a giant walking bus made its way to Monkton Church of England Primary School.

Proud pupils, parents and teachers donned hi-vis tabards and joined in the fun as part of the celebrations to mark the 10 birthday of the Thanet school’s walking bus service.

The whole school took part making it the biggest walking bus the school had ever seen.

Pupils were also treated to a special assembly for a birthday bus certificate presentation. Children who regularly use the walking bus were rewarded with tickets for Silver Blades ice skating rink.

The walking bus has proven to be a hit with pupils who said they enjoyed walking to school every day as it gave them the chance to have fun and socialise.

Pupil Jasper Marsh, 10, said: “It’s good because we see all our friends before we go to school.”

Classmate Harry Faulkner, also 10, said he likes the walking bus because he gets to see “all the autumn leaves and the cats and the birds.”

Esther Marsh, walking bus coordinator, said: “They all absolutely love it; they get to make lots of friends and they get all their energy out.”

Walking Bus is part of the KM Walk to School campaign, which succeeded in removing more than 250,000 car journeys from the county’s roads last academic year.

Organisations supporting the campaign include Kent County Council, Medway Council, Ashford Borough Council, Maidstone Borough Council, Orbit South, Golding Vision (part of Golding Homes), Leeds Castle, Circle Housing Russet, Whitefriars shopping area, Safer Kent, Bexley Council, Eurostar, Specsavers, Three R’s Teacher Recruitment and Mini Babybel.

Simon Dolby of KM Walk to School said: “I am thrilled the walking bus is such a loved and valued service at Monkton Primary. Pupils benefit from regular exercise and the associated drop in school run car journeys is good news for the environment.”

He added: “There is still time for schools to have award-winning green travel in place for 2016. Join Walk on Wednesday (WOW) or Active Bug this term and you’ll also receive access to resources for Green Champions and Road Safety Skills Tests.”

Schools can click on the above links to complete an online enquiry form or visit www.kmwalktoschool.co.uk or call 0844 2640291.