The company behind some of the most popular cheese brands is backing walk to school schemes in Sheerness.

Bel UK produces the likes of Mini Babybel, The Laughing Cow and Boursin.

It has become a main sponsor of the walking bus, Walk on Wednesday and Walking Bug, providing a donation of £3,000.

Rosie Tapp, corporate and social responsibility manager for the company, said: “Mini Babybel is delighted to be sponsoring the walking bus initiative in Kent.

“It is a fantastic project which ticks so many of the right boxes, encouraging children to build some exercise into their daily routine, getting communities and families together, as well as taking cars off the roads and saving money in a few easy steps.

“By encouraging children to walk to school on a regular basis, parents are laying the building blocks for a healthy lifestyle which will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

“Combine this with an appreciation of a balanced diet, not forgetting the all important sources of natural calcium such as Mini Babybel cheese, parents are giving their children the best possible start.”

She added that Mini Babybel is proud to be associated with this imaginative scheme and looks forward to supporting more walking buses all over Kent in the future.

Bel has been in the UK since 1929 and the UK office started up in Maidstone over 15 years with just a handful of people . It now employs over 40 full-time staff.

The Bel Group is the name behind some of the worlds best-known superbrands , which also includes Leerdammer and Port Salut.

Thousands of primary school children across the county take part in the three popular walk to school schemes.

The 140 walking buses serve 3,000 children and the WOW and Bug schemes involve 40,000 pupils.

The walking bus, which is a Medway Council and Kent County Council led initiative, is also sponsored by Denne Construction, Ringway, Veolia Environmental Services, Eurostar, AXA PPP healthcare and the Co-operative.

For information on the Walking Bus view www.kmwalktoschool.co.uk or call 0844 264 0292.