A DROP in car journeys has led to a decrease of about 6,000 tonnes in the amount of carbon dioxide being pumped into the air in Darlington.

Car journeys in the town have dropped by nine per cent since the start of the council's Local Motion scheme equating, to 35 million less miles a year.

Journeys made on foot increased by 15 per cent and cycling has risen by 65 per cent.

The number of children cycling to school has also quadrupled. Owen Wilson, from the Local Motion project, said the savings equated to 5,800 less tonnes of carbon dioxide polluted into the environment since 2004.