PUPILS at Smarden Primary School think their new Walking Bus is the coolest way to travel to school.

Smarden's Walking Bus was officially launched on Tuesday, November 4, and co-ordinator and school governor Kathryn Jansen says pupils have been really keen to hop on board. She said: "Our two Walking Bus routes are now full up and the bus has gone from running one day a week, to five days a week.

"The children are so enthusiastic about it and the whole village has embraced the Walking Bus. Many of elderly residents of the village who always walked to school as children, have commented how lovely it is to see children walking to school again – and how impressive the two buses look with snaking lines of children wearing their bright yellow jackets."

The routes run from Smarden Charter Hall and St Michael's Church and Cllr Richard King.

There will soon be room for more passengers to travel by Walking Bus to the Pluckley Road school, as extra adult volunteers are currently been signed up to meet the demand for places.

Smarden Primary will also be offering Walk on Wednesday (WOW), which rewards pupils for walking in to school every Wednesday.

As well as the Kent Messenger Media Group, the Walking Bus, which is a KCC-led initiative is sponsored by Denne, Ringway, Veolia Environmental Services, Eurostar, AXA PPP healthcare, Co-op and Brake Group. For more information on Walking Bus view www.kmwalktoschool.co.uk or call the KM Walk to School team on 0844 2640292.