Families turned out in force to help a Kent children’s road safety charity break the record for the biggest Walking Bus to march down a street in the county.

The annual record attempt staged in Canterbury attracted contingents from 20 Walking Buses across the county with 243 children taking part and beating the 2007 record by two.

Families marched through the city centre which ended at the Dane John Gardens where the crowd was met by the Lord Mayor of Canterbury Cllr Carolyn Parry.

The event was organised to coincide with this week's National Walk to School campaign and to recognise the achievements of the KM Walking Buses.

Charity chairman Simon Dolby told families and sponsors that in the last year the 116 walking buses in the county had taken 100,000 school run car journeys off Kent’s streets and he praised families for their hard work and commitment to making the walk to school cool.

Sponsors attending the event on Saturday were presented with birthday certificates to show their support of the award-winning walk to school charity.

Birthday certificates were presented to a number of Walking Buses to celebrate their years of operation. These were: St Augustine’s, Tunbridge Wells, six years; Leybourne, Maidstone, three years; Sandling, Maidstone, one year; Minster, Thanet, nine years; Skinner Street and St Mary’s Island, Medway, one year; Walderslade and The Pilgrim School, Medway, two years; St Andrew’s School, Medway, six years; Aldington, Ashford, one year; Mundella, Folkestone, six years; Bridge, Canterbury, St Mary’s and Joy Lane, Whitstable, one year; St Alphege, Whitstable, four years; Sturry, Canterbury, five years.

The Lord Mayor of Canterbury made presentations to Argyll Insurance, Creative Venom, Denne Construction, Kent County Council, Larkings, Marlowe Theatre, P&O Ferries and Ringway.

Children received goody bags containing road safety skills books and attractions to leisure attractions and also received Sainsbury’s FairTrade bananas, fruit bags from McDonalds and a slice of pizza from Pizza Hut.

The day ended with a treasure hunt round the Whitefriars area of the city supported by Build-a-Bear Workshop.

The main event sponsors included Ringway, Denne Construction and Veolia Environmental Services.

For more information view www.kmwalktoschool.co.uk.