More schools across Oxfordshire are to receive cash to encourage parents to avoid cars and have their children walk or cycle to school.

A 200,000 budget has been set aside for the Better Ways to School scheme, piloted at three Faringdon schools earlier this year.

Among the new ideas introduced are walking buses, where parents and teachers escort children between school and home.

The highways and road safety sub-committee this week decided a further 12 state schools will receive a chunk of the 200,000 to provide schemes encouraging environmentally friendly means of travelling to school. Every school in the county was invited to bid for cash and 16, all in the south of the county, responded.

The twelve successful schools in Thame, Chinnor, Wootton, Oxford, Childrey and East Hanney were picked to receive cash under a points system. The Faringdon schools in the pilot will continue to receive funding.

Rachel Gover, county council travelwise officer, said: "This will provide a firm foundation for the scheme this year and for the future. "It has been pleasing to see the extent of activity by schools and local communities in tackling the school journey problem. While credit must go to the schools and individuals involved, there is evidence that the county council's efforts to promote action on schools journeys has been effective."

The highways sub-comm- ittee agreed to ask the environment committee to set aside 25,000 next year for a school travel plans officer to be appointed to ensure development of the scheme.