Imaginative ways to walk to school have earned a Radlett primary school a national award for promoting environmentally friendly modes of transport.

Fair Field Junior School, in Watford Road, came first in the Walking Initiative of the Year category at the National Sustainable School Awards, run by transport organisation Modeshift.

The school was presented with a certificate and trophy in recognition of its travel plan, which was developed earlier this year after a survey showed fewer than ten per cent of the children walked to school.

County Councillor Richard Thake, deputy executive member for education, said: “This is an excellent example of what can be achieved through a school travel plan, and through imaginative schemes that inspire children to take part and get walking whenever they can.”

Among the ideas produced by the school council and the Parents and Teachers Association was Wacky Walking Week, a competition which encouraged pupils to produce a piece of work about their journey to school. Those who took part were then allowed to come to school with a “wacky” hairstyle at the end of the week.

Children were also given their own pedometer so each class could keep a total of the number of steps they walked during the week. At the end of the week each class compared their walking total with the distance between London and other capital cities to get an idea of how far they had travelled.

All the poems, posters, banners, photos and films children had produced during the week were put together in an exhibition.

County Councillor Stuart Pile, executive member for transport, said: “Congratulations are due to all at Fair Field for their well-deserved success and for encouraging more children to walk to school at least once a week.”

For more information about Modeshift, visit modeshift.org.uk