A former England women’s rugby captain swapped box-kicks for books when she gave a story time to the winners of a walk to school challenge.

Some 600 pupils at St Katherine’s School in Snodland crowded into the hall to see Catherine Spencer, who captained England for three years and played in 63 matches for the country, including two World Cup finals.

The children had Ash class to thank for winning the visit – they came top in a February walk to school challenge as part of the KM Charity Team’s Active Wow green travel scheme, which they had only joined the previous month.

Sarah Clyne, walk to school project officer at the KM Charity Team, said: “We were so impressed by the pupils - talk about throwing themselves straight into it!”

Catherine read The Highway Rat, a tale of a rodent robber who gets his comeuppance from a crafty duck, by Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson.

The 38-year-old, who lives in Hythe and trained as a child at Folkestone Rugby Club, where at first she was the only girl playing the sport, also showed the youngsters the medals she was awarded during her England career.

“Catherine’s a fantastic role model for both girls and boys because she has taken gender stereotypes and kicked them well and truly into touch,” Sarah added.

“She shows that you can do anything you want to do if you put your mind to it.”

Active Wow encourages families to walk to school with classes competing each week to be awarded the Green Class of the Week Trophy. A monthly inter-school green travel challenge awards winning classes tickets to leisure attractions or visits by storytellers.

Catherine said: “I’ve had a great morning meeting the pupils – including Ash class, who’ve done so well.”

Organisations supporting the KM Charity Team’s green travel work with schools include Whites Transport, Ashford International Hotel, Orbit, Volker Highways, Countrystyle Recycling, Golding Vision (part of Golding Homes), Specsavers, Eurostar, Kent County Council, Medway Council, London Borough of Bexley, Three R’s Teacher Recruitment, Whitefriars, Maidstone Borough Council, and Ashford Borough Council.

Schools have until July 1 to join Active Wow at a 20% discount for next academic year. Visit www.kmwalktoschool.co.uk/wow or contact Sarah Clyne at sclyne@thekmgroup.co.uk or by calling 0844 264 0291.