HUNDREDS of pupils across the county will take part in national Walk to School Week, which starts today.

A total of 202 of the 282 schools in the county have signed up to join in with schools across the country in the scheme.

Travel plans drawn up by the schools aim to replace car journeys with walking, cycling and bus journeys - with the aim of reducing the number of drivers parking near schools at the beginning and end of the school day.

Ian Hudspeth, county council cabinet member for transport, welcomed the large number of schools taking part in the event, which runs - or walks - until Friday.

He said: "I'm really pleased to see the number of schools in the county with travel plans grow as each month and year goes by.

"Every school that has produced a travel plan is contributing in its own small way to reducing the amount of traffic on our roads during the rush-hour.

"National Walk to School Week events are a way of celebrating the commitment of Oxfordshire schools and their work with the county council."

Events include: Pupils from St Mary's School, in Chipping Norton, and Stockham Primary School, in Wantage, walking to school in fancy dress Pupils from Cumnor Primary School walking to Hill End activity centre Pupils from Sacred Hearts Primary School, in Henley, wearing clothes featuring traffic lights colours.

Parents and schoolchildren took part in a six-and-a-half mile stroll around Deddington to mark the start of the week.

Cara Lynch-Blosse, headteacher of Cumnor Primary School, said: "We have quite a wide catchment area which stretches from Farmoor to Botley, so we do as much as we can to encourage pupils who live within walking distance to walk to the school.

"Last year, we set up lots of walking buses where parents walk groups of children to school and all 220 pupils are taking part in the walk to Hill End."