TRAFFIC is set to ease at 21 Craven primary schools which have won funding to promote walking to school.

Seven of the schools are getting a £1,000 Government grant each year for three years to organise "walking bus" schemes. These involve adult volunteers picking up groups of children from designated "stops" and escorting them to and from school on foot.

A further 14 schools will receive £500 a year for three years to promote "park and stride" schemes. These encourage parents to drive their children part way to school and then walk the last five minutes together.

Schools can use the money to pay for things like police checks, risk assessments and high visibility jackets for the children.

"Not only do walking buses reduce parking problems, they also give young people the chance to learn road safety skills and help combat climate change," said Gordon Gresty, of North Yorkshire County Council.

"Furthermore, some teachers have reported that children who walk to school are better able to concentrate and arrive at school ready to learn."

The schools receiving £1,000 are: Austwick, Bradleys Both, Christ Church in Skipton, Embsay, Kettlewell, Long Preston and Richard Thornton's at Burton-in-Lonsdale.

Those in line for £500 are: Arncliffe, Clapham, Glusburn, Grassington, Hellifield, Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Ingleton, Kildwick, Langcliffe, Rathmell, Skipton Parish, Sutton County Primary, Thornton-in-Craven and Water Street in Skipton.