A major breakthrough by the Sustrans organisation will mean children not having to battle against heavy traffic to get to school.

The Bristol-based group which is developing a former railway line as a track for cyclists, walkers and horse riders, has been given the go-ahead to extend the Thame end.

Currently the path runs from Princes Risborough to Thame Park Road.

Permission given by South Oxfordshire District Council northern area planning committee extends it from Thame Park Road to Moreton Lane.

The extension means children from Thame and Chinnor, going to Lord Williams's School in Thame, will have a safe route away from the heavy town centre and Oxford Road traffic.

The move has been strongly backed by the school, Thame town, South Oxfordshire District and Oxfordshire County councils and by the Thame and Chinnor Better Ways to School pressure group.

Sustrans Sustainable Transport hopes eventually to extend the path right into Upper School in Oxford Road and possibly onwards towards Oxford.