YOUNGSTERS are being urged to walk at least part of the way to school.

A regional survey of travel to school has shown that North Yorkshire has the lowest percentage of pupils walking to school in all of Yorkshire.

County council officials put the figure down to the rural nature of North Yorkshire, but say they are doing everything they can to improve the authority's position.

Councillor John Fort, executive member for environmental services, said: "Being a rural county doesn't mean that we give up on encouraging walking to school, it just means we have to try harder."

Current initiatives to promote walking include encouraging parents to park up at a friend's house instead and then walk the last five or ten minutes to school.

Council travel awareness officer Geoff Gardner said: "If you walk to school and don't like the clutter of cars around the school gate, then why not invite one of those cars to come and park at your house instead. Walk together, make friends, have fun on the school run."