A healthy and safe way for children to go to and from school by taking the "walking bus" - walking routes supervised by two adults - has been initiated in the North West region.
The project in Sligo provides for two set walking routes, picking up "passengers" en route and arriving at St Edward's National School, Ballytivnan.
Each walking bus has an adult "driver" at the front leading the group and an adult "conductor" at the back. Operating on one day a week at present, plans are in place to facilitate a more frequent service and similar runs in schools across the North West.
Last week, representatives of the North Western Health Board (NWHB) and Sligo Borough Council joined the children as they welcomed the European Society of Cardiology's "For your heart's sake" statue - a large symbolic heart used to promote a better lifestyle.
It is being used as part of the society's initiative in promoting heart health across Europe. The symbolic heart moved northwards across the region over the past week.
NWHB's physical activity development co-ordinator, Ms Maire McCallion, said recent census figures showed a dramatic drop in the number of children walking to school. One out of two primary school children were driven to school in 2002, compared with less than one in five in 1981. The Sligo initiative was crucial in ensuring that physical activity was promoted in a practical, fun-orientated manner, she said.
"Children who walk to school ultimately use more calories and get more activity than those who travel by car," Ms McCallion said.
She added that the findings did not undermine the importance of PE at school. The Sligo Sports and Recreation partnership, the Garda Síochána, parents and teachers at the school are also involved in the "walking bus" Sligo project.