WEST Dunbartonshire primary schools have just six weeks to get involved with a new road safety project that focuses on giving children the right to walk safely in their communities.

Brake’s Kids Walk, in partnership with Co-op Insurance, will see thousands of children aged 4-11,put their best feet forward to promote road safety and the health and planet-saving benefits of walking.

The short, supervised walks will take place on Wednesday, June 13 at or around schools, with children walking in a crocodile formation and holding hands to promote the importance of kids being able to walk without fear or threat from traffic.

So far more than 5,000 children from over 30 schools in Scotland have registered to take part, with thousands more expected to get involved over the next month, including schools from all over West Dunbartonshire.

The project, coordinated by road safety charity Brake, is calling on five measures to help keep children safe: footpaths, cycle paths, safe places to cross, slow traffic and clean traffic.

Every school that registers via www.brake.org.uk/kidswalk will receive a free action pack full of posters, banners, lesson plans, assembly presentations and activities to run with their children.

Bilingual resources will be available for schools in Wales. And hundreds of schools will use the event as a fundraiser for Brake - the charity that supports families who have lost loved ones in road crashes.

Dave Nichols, community engagement manager for Brake, the road safety charity, told the Reporter: “Brake is passionate about the safety and welfare of children. We believe it’s every child’s right to be able to walk in their communities without fear of traffic and pollution.

“But to do this, we need to make sure their journeys are safe. This is why we’re already working with thousands of children to give them and their school a voice, and I would encourage any school to join this project and help get these important messages out to grown-ups.”

The charity has also teamed up with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) to help local police and fire officers support schools with their walks, especially those that have problems with traffic and parking.

For more information and to register visit www.brake.org.uk/kidswalk