Bright sparks walk to school!

A special Be Bright Day helped launch a campaign to get more youngsters switched on to walking to school.

To herald the beginning of Walk to School month, teachers and pupils were urged to dress in their brightest clothes to illustrate the campaign theme - Be Bright be Seen.

The aim was to prompt people to wear brighter clothes as autumn promises increasingly dusky mornings and darker evenings.

Kursaal Bowling generously donated Bowling tickets as prizes to be awarded to the brightest-dressed children in every primary school in the Borough.

Youngsters at Barons Court Infant School and Nursery, in Avenue Road, Westcliff, were joined by the Worshipful the Mayor of Southend Councillor Ann Holland, and Rob Lee, the Manager of Kursaal Bowling, to kickstart the campaign.

Throughout October, the children - and teachers - are being encouraged to walk to school as many times as they can.

Each class will complete a daily log recording the walkers.  At the end of the month the school will award the three children or teachers that have walked the most with yet more Kursaal Bowling tickets.

The overall winning school will receive a Walk 2 School Plaque as a record of their achievement to be presented by the Mayor. They also clinch a special treat of East 15 Acting School at the University of Essex to perform in their assembly.

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council's Executive Councillor for Transport and Planning, Councillor Mark Flewitt says: "This is an excellent campaign which we hope will inspire as many youngsters as possible to take part.

"By strongly encouraging all the schools to compete, we hope we will be able to noticeably reduce congestion in Southend especially throughout October.

"This will help parents to see the clear advantages of walking to school, as well as recognising the health benefits to the children, and the social element of walking with friends."

For more information on Walk 2 School visit: http://www.walk2school.org.uk/