SCHOOLS throughout North Yorkshire are gearing up for a series of fun events to promote the joys of walking during national School Walking Week.

The event, which runs from Monday to Friday next week, has been designed to encourage people to take to two legs.

And even those in isolated areas of the sprawling county are being urged to do their bit.

North Yorkshire County Council's school travel awareness officer, Geoff Gardner, said: "Many children in North Yorkshire have genuine difficulty in walking from remote rural areas to their school but that is no reason why they should miss out.

"Instead we are hoping that more schools will follow the successful ideas from last year's walking week in which schools included everyone in various events such as walking around the neighbourhood, the village or even the playground.

"Some village schools have adopted local paths and have become actively involved in clearing overgrowth and learning about the hedgerows."