The wheels on the bus did not go round and round for pupils who swapped public transport for a greener way of getting to school, writes Roseena Parveen.

About 20 children formed a "human bus" yesterday instead.

"Driven" by teacher Maureen Langston and "conducted" by local beat officer Pc Kate O'Kane, the bus shepherded children to and from Wootton Primary School, near Abingdon. The Rev John Cooper, of St Peter's Church, Wootton, also joined the journey to school dressed as a squire.

The children walked for nearly a mile each way, dressed in bright-yellow safety jackets, bought with a grant from the High Sheriff of Oxford, Andrew Fielden. The Walking Bus is being hailed as a way of making children's journeys to school safer, more environmentally friendly and healthier. Mum-of-three Jenni Green, who helped lead the first bus, said: "I think it's a great start to the day.

"It's nice for the kids to walk and chat with friends and you certainly feel better when you've had a walk."

Traffic congestion in the area is expected to improve now that some of the children are making the journey to school on foot.

Parents can drop their children off outside Wootton Post Office, the official pick-up point.

Mothers are to operate the scheme on a rota basis and they are determined that bad weather will not stop it running.

Story date: Tuesday 01 February

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