SCHOOLS across North Yorkshire are working towards bringing more than £500,000 in extra Government cash to the county.

Any school which has its travel plan signed off by Easter could benefit from a cash boost of up to £12,000.

The money can then be used to back up that travel plan and reduce the number of cars congesting roads on the twice-daily school run.

The county's executive member for environmental services, John Fort, said: "A travel plan sets out how the school and its partners intend to encourage pupils and parents to walk, cycle or use the bus to get to and from school.

"The cash is intended to help this process by bringing back state-of-the-art cycle parking facilities, bus shelters and new footpath entrances, which will encourage pupils to come to school a different way, other than by car."

He added: "It's never going to be easy walking or cycling in North Yorkshire, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't do it. It just means we have to try harder."

One of the county's first travel plans came from Hawes School where head teacher Julie Woodyer is now planning to spend her new money on a waiting shelter for those who walk to school.

"At the end of the day if it is raining we don't want parents to be huddling in doorways resenting those in their heated cars," she said.

"We want to encourage as many children as possible to walk, even if they just 'park and stride' from a local parking area in order to get some quality time and exercise."