More than 270,000 school run car journeys have been removed from the county’s roads thanks to the barnstorming success of the KM Walk to School campaign.

Selected schools taking part in the campaign’s green travel schemes including Walk on Wednesday (WOW), Active Bug, Green Footsteps and Walking Bus were invited to a celebration at Leeds Castle to help announce the record figure.

They revealed the county’s roads have been spared from a total of 272,650 car journeys to school this academic year, trouncing last year’s results by nearly 22,000.

Pupils were congratulated by KM Walk to School mascot Buster Bug and supporting organisations Whitefriars Canterbury, 3Rs teacher recruitment, Leeds Castle, Orbit South, Kent County Council, Ashford Borough Council and Bexley Council.

Peter Scutt of Whitefriars was quick to champion the impressive result. “In excess of 270,000 – more than a quarter of a million – vehicles removed from the county’s roads this academic year is a truly amazing achievement, and proof of just how successful the KM Walk to School initiatives are. Congratulations to all the children for their dedication to green travel,” he said.

Mark Bunting of Bexley Council, said: “More and more schools are keen to get involved, and the record-breaking figure this year just shows how passionate educators across Kent, Medway and Bexley are about getting children walking to school. It gives them an active, healthy and happy start to the school day, as well as greatly aiding our environment.”

Organisations backing the KM Walk to School services which will soon see the arrival of Super WOW! include: Specsavers, Circle Housing Russet, Countrystyle Recycling, Gallagher Aggregates, Silver Blades Ice Rink, Mini Babybel, Safer Kent, Eurostar, Orbit, Golding Vision (Part of Golding Homes), Leeds Castle, Wildwood, 3Rs teacher recruitment, Whitefriars Canterbury, Kent County Council, Medway Council, Ashford Borough Council and Bexley Council.

Simon Dolby, chief executive of the KM Charity Team which manages KM Walk to School, said: “We are so tremendously proud of our young record-breakers who have surpassed all expectations with their walking. This large reduction in school run car journeys will make out county a cleaner, greener place, and that’s something worthy of celebration!”

For details of how schools can join Super WOW! for the 2016-2017 academic year, visit www.kmwalktoschool.co.uk or call 0844 264 0291