DAVID Bellamy joined volunteers at the KM Walk to School Awards to celebrate the number of Walking Buses passing the 100 mark for the first time in the county's history.

The glittering awards night, staged at the Hop Farm, on November 20, trumpeted the achievements of parent volunteers and teachers involved with the Walk on Wednesday, Walking Bug and Walking Bus walk to school initiatives.

Eurostar and the Ashford-based Brakes Group both announced £5,000 donations to support the Walking Bus charity in 2008 and Honorary Patron of the charity David Bellamy presented a national Green Apple Environment Award to project chairman Simon Dolby.

Geraldine Allinson, Chairman of the Kent Messenger Media Group, congratulated winners and announced that the numbers of Walking Buses in the county had now reached 118.

She described the news as a fantastic achievement for the organisation.

David Bellamy revealed that 130 schools were using the Walking Bug and WOW Walk on Wednesday schemes this term with more than 30,000 children involved.

While Walking Buses had taken 100,000 school run car journeys off Kent's streets in the last 12 months the new WOW and Walking Bug initiatives were already making an impact with 18,000 car journeys removed this academic term.

Top awards were presented on the night by Veolia Environmental Services, Ringway, Denne Construction, Brakes Group, The Co-operative Group, Pfizer and Medway Council and KCC.

Also supporting the event were Astral Design of Chatham, who provided the stage, set and lighting, and D. Isom Printers of Herne Bay, who provided the awards night brochures, and Lipscombe Cars.

The main awards were presented to: Kent's Greenest Schools, Twydall Infant and Junior, Medway; Kent's Healthiest School, Minster Primary, Thanet; Top WOW School, Swalecliffe Primary, Whitstable; Top Green Footsteps School, High Halstow Primary, Medway; Top Walking Bus Co-ordinator in Kent and Medway 2007, Angela Thorogood and Mandy Rapley of St Mary's, Whitstable; Top Walking Bus Volunteer 2007, Linda Poccock, Twydall Walking Bus, Medway; Top Walking Bus 2007, St Augustine's Walking Bus, Tunbridge Wells.