CHILDREN in Swindon are being urged to take part in a competition to design safer routes to school by a Swindon MP.

Julia Drown, MP for South Swindon, is encouraging secondary school pupils to enter the Grass Routes Challenge which is being run by the RAC.

It asks school children to think about road safety by developing travel plans that promote greener ways of getting to school be it by bus, bike or on foot.

Figures show the school run causes 20 per cent of morning traffic.

Swindon is already involved in trying to reduce the school rush in the town. The council is asking schools to draw up their own travel plans and in Abbey Meads a walking bus service which picks children up and takes them home started earlier this year.

Ms Drown believes the competition, which has a top prize of £4,000 to enable schools to implement the plans they design, will complement these initiatives.

She said: "The challenge is a great way of encouraging young people to develop safer, healthier and greener ways of getting to school and involving the whole community.

"Swindon Council is currently working with teachers and governors to develop school travel plans and help reduce the risk of accidents. I hope local secondary schools will enter this RAC competition as a way of further highlighting this excellent initiative."

Schools can find out more about the challenge by calling 0970 010 4443 or registering online at www.rac.co.uk