PUPILS climbed aboard a ' walking bus' on their way to school last week.

The children from Ellel St John's Primary School in Galgate were inspired to let their feet do the talking by a reception teacher who has just returned from teaching at a rural South African school.

During Jacqui Coakley's time in Africa she discovered that it was not uncommon for children to walk up to 8km to school everyday.

Some even had to wade through a river!

So for 'Walk to School Week' the keen youngsters decided to make their regularly journey to school more fun by meeting up with their friends.

The walking bus was a great success aided by glorious autumn weather.

Paul Warwick from Global Link in Lancaster helped organise the bus for the school children, which set off at 8.15am every day from the far side of the village.

Mrs Coakley said: "At the first 'Bus Stop' we picked up some children.

Then as we walked through the village to school more children would join the bus.

The notion of the walking bus was first discussed with the school's pupil council who thought it was an excellent idea.

They thought it would be of great benefit to the environment, reducing the number of cars transporting children to school, saving their parent's time and money with less petrol being used on short journeys and promote walking as healthy exercise for the children.

They also felt it was great fun to walk to school with their friends.

The "Walking Bus" children met at the end of the school day to walk the children home."