THREE new traffic-free routes designed to make it safer for children to get to and from school are to open next week.

Darlington Borough Council has joined forces for the scheme with green charity Sustrans, which promotes sustainable travel.

The Department of Transport, through Sustrans, handed over £105,000 for the project and £131,000 was provided by the council.

The funding has been used to develop three links in the town, providing pupils with safer routes to walk and cycle to school.

The routes are: an improved pathway in Cemetery Lane to link Hummersknott School and Language College to Cleveland Terrace; a link from the Red Hall estate to the River Skerne; and a link from Hurworth village to Neasham village, providing a pathway for pupils to get to schools in Hurworth.

The development is part of a £10m national drive to improve routes to schools.

Nick Wallis, the council's cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "The improvement works and new routes will provide pupils and the public with enhanced and safer pathways to use to get to and from school.

"The council is committed to promoting sustainable forms of travel and a scheme like this is invaluable."

It is hoped the traffic-free paths will encourage pupils from Hummersknott School and Language College, Abbey Infant and Junior Schools, Red Hall Primary School and the schools in Hurworth to walk or cycle to school, as well as making it safer for the public to walk or cycle around the town.

The paths will eventually connect to the National Cycle Network.

Ryland Jones, Sustrans' North-East area manager, said: "We know that around 50 per cent of young people want to cycle to school but only four per cent do so.

"Many parents are concerned about safety and we believe that a safe route to school is not a luxury, it is a necessity.

"These new paths promise to get young people into travelling habits that are good for themselves and for the environment."