SCHOOLCHILDREN are encouraging fellow pupils to put their best feet forward and walk to school instead of being dropped off by car.

Students from Pleckgate High School, Blackburn, have made a film to encourage more youngsters to walk after residents complained about traffic jams at key school times.

Massive queues are caused by parents picking up and dropping off children in Pleckgate Road since the new building opened in September.

The new school was created under Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Building Schools for the Future scheme.

The Year 10 media students teamed up with the Living Streets charity to encourage their peers to use their feet by showing them the benefits of taking exercise.

Students Saahil Shariff and Sahiba Shahzadi playedTV reporters, interviewing residents and the school community. Saahil said: “We found many pupils feel too tired to learn after starting the day sat in the back of a car. We’re trying to send the message that walking to school is a great way to wake up for the day ahead.”

Sahiba came up with the idea of a power-hour walk to school as a way for pupils to be ready for morning lessons.

She said: “It’s great for everyone. Pupils be ready for lesson one. Parents can save time by avoiding the congestion chaos and residents can feel safe without the dangers of busy roads.”

Tony Armstrong, Living Streets chief exective, said: “One in five cars on the road at peak times is on the school run. A quarter of people say they never walk for 20 minutes or more at a time, resulting in serious consequences for their health. We need to make regular walking an attractive option again, and this campaign is a brilliant way to start.”

The film will be shown for the first time as part of a presentation evening on Thursday June 21 at the school.