NEARLY 100,000 school children in the North-East are to get free bus and Metro rides as part of a scheme to encourage more parents to leave their cars at home.

Primary school pupils living in Tyne and Wear could get free travel on weekdays up to 7pm during term times, under proposals by the Passenger Transport Authority.

Currently, all children aged over five have to pay 25p, but the new scheme will mean under-11s can travel free to and from primary school.

The scheme aims to ease congestion near schools.

Newcastle City Councillor Danny Marshall, chairman of the PTA, said: "These measures will encourage more people to use public transport for the school run.

"One of the main benefits of these schemes is to reduce the number of cars on our roads making them safer for our children.

"It will also help to reduce pollution and improve the quality of the air we breathe."

If approved at a meeting of the PTA later this week, the measures will come into force on September 4, in time for the new academic year.