Pupils in 'walking bus' record

The charity Brake wants 20mph speed limits around schools

More than 80,000 pupils from 520 schools across the UK are hoping to set a new world record for a "walking bus".

The event, organised by the road safety charity Brake, saw pupils aged five to 11 walk around their school.

The record attempt is part of Brake's campaign to make road safety education and 20mph speed limits near schools compulsory.

The charity says, every day in the UK, six children are killed or seriously injured by traffic while out walking.

The organisation says, after cancer, death on the road is the biggest killer of children aged five to 14.

Christine Bradford whose son, Michael, was killed in 2001 at the age of 14, said drivers must think more carefully about road safety.

Road facts In 2005, 2,197 child pedestrians were killed or seriously injured This amounts to 42 child pedestrian deaths or serious injuries a week or six a day Between 1995-97 and 2005, the proportion of primary pupils walking to school fell from 53% to 49% Source: Department for Transport

Michael was killed when a disqualified and uninsured driver jumped a red light and hit him as he crossed the road. He was in hospital for nine days before he died.

His mother said: "Every single driver needs to be accountable for their actions behind the wheel and pledge to drive safety and slowly, especially when there are children around.

"As an ardent supporter of Brake's work, I think the record-breaking walking bus attempt is a great way to get these messages across to parents and drivers in general, while also teaching the children how to stay safe around roads."

'Preventable deaths'

Jools Townsend from Brake said: "Fifty-three children a week and seven children a day are killed or seriously injured while out walking or cycling, leaving families and communities torn apart by grief.

"These preventable deaths must stop and schools can play an important role in providing children with a safe, green and healthy alternative to the 'school run' in the car.

"A walking bus is an ideal way for children to learn road safety lessons which could one day save their lives.

"Through this national initiative we are also educating drivers that at 35mph you are twice as likely to kill a child you hit as at 30mph."

Pupils across the UK, from Belfast to Ipswich and from Portsmouth to Glasgow, took part in the record-breaking attempt.

Organisers say they will hear in the coming weeks whether or not they have won a Guinness World Record.

The walking bus record was supported by Asda.