A PIONEERING system to keep pupils safe as they travel to and from school will feature on a Government transport policy TV documentary.

St Christopher's CE High School, Accrington, began appointing "travel prefects" for its 10 designated school buses several years ago.

The year 11 pupils act as the "eyes and ears" on buses, dealing with minor incidents and reporting major ones.

Such was the system's success, Lancashire County Council's safer travel unit adopted and extended the scheme to offer it across the county, and reward the prefects with a free bus pass.

There are now 620 travel prefects county-wide.

Last week, camera crews from ITV's Tonight With Trevor McDonald spent the morning at the Queens Road West school.

They filmed the safer travel unit leading an educational session with students, and interviewed travel prefects about their views on the scheme.

The show's camera crews also filmed public transport bus services in Burnley.

The show is focusing on the Government's current drive to get more people using public transport, and how safe it is.

St Christopher's head-teacher Alistair Coates said: "We were chosen for the programme as a good practice model for school travel.

"We would not claim to have no problems on our buses, but our pupils are well behaved.

"In partnership with the county council, responsible pupils are chosen as prefects, and are trained for the role. There are two or three prefects per double-decker, and they work with driver and school to maintain good behaviour."

Set up in 2001, the safer travel unit educates students about transport safety, and visits Lancashire schools to talk to pupils. Manager Rick Wilson, said: "We aim to speak to every new Year Seven pupil in Lancashire, to teach them about the importance of safety on buses, and the consequences of not behaving properly.

The documentary will be broadcast on Monday, May 21, at 8pm.