'PARK and stride' is the message from St Philip's Primary School in Westbrook as it encourages its pupils to be fit, clean and green.

The school has launched a new 'park and stride' route, in an effort to encourage children and parents to walk the last part of their journey to school.

As part of the schools' Travel Plan volunteers were involved in a clean-up operation in preparation for National Walk to School Week.

And litter pickers from Warrington Borough Council park rangers, the Woodland Trust, Warrington Clean team and Operation Eden lent a hand.

Phil Carswell, head teacher, said: "Although it was a rainy week, a number of parents and pupils defied the rain and did their best to walk to school."

The campaign has gained the support of the Seven Woods pub who have allowed parents to use their car park.

Anne Purcell, healthy school's project officer, said: "This can help children become more aware of road safety, make the area immediately around the school safer and help parents and children get an active start to the day.

"Children are shown to be able to concentrate better if they walk to school and they also become more aware of their surroundings."