It was a triple celebration for the walking bus team at Gordon Schools Federation in Rochester.

Children at Gordon Juniors’ after school club Fun Explorers cheered at the formal launch of an additional walking bus route that now links their school with Cedar Primary.

Nearly 50 pupils regularly take part in the green travel scheme which serves a number of schools in the area.

At the same time lollipop lady Jane Kemp and playwork assistant Linda Strange celebrated their tenth anniversaries of working at Gordon Junior School. Both received a bouquet of flowers at the launch event to thank them for their efforts.

Wendy Gale, manager of Fun Explorers, said: “I have run the after school club for around 12 years and I enjoy the job I do and I am always striving to do better.

“We have a great team and with Jane the crossing lady pupils arrive safely from St Nicholas Primary and Cedar Primary every day.”

The team were also praised by James Sutton and Claire Harris from Medway Council, Amy Woods from Three R’s Teacher Recruitment Agency and Simon Dolby of KM Walk to School.

Mr Dolby said: “I’d like to congratulate this hardworking and dedicated walking bus team.

“They’re helping children to associate exercise with having fun and sowing the seeds for a healthy lifestyle from a young age. Plus of course the community benefits from safer, less congested roads.”

The scheme is part of the KM Walk to School campaign, which succeeded in removing more than 208,543 car journeys from Kent roads last academic year.

KM Walk to School is a Kent County Council and Medway Council-led initiative supported by Ashford Borough Council, Thanet District Council, Canterbury City Council, Maidstone Borough Council, Specsavers, Countrystyle Recycling, Three R’s Teacher Recruitment, Mini Babybel, Chaucer Foundation, Eurostar, Southern Water, Orbit South, Golding Homes, Jelf Insurance Brokers, Independent Music Productions, Whitefriars shopping area and Leeds Castle.

For more information on walk to school projects, including Walk on Wednesday, Active Bug and Green Footsteps, visit www.kmwalktoschool.co.uk or call 0844 2640291.