A TRAVEL adviser may be appointed by Bolton Council in a bid to reduce the number of cars on the daily school run.

Education bosses want to appoint someone to work with teachers, governors, pupils and parents to persuade people to use more environmentally-friendly ways to get to school.

The adviser would encourage healthier and less polluting ways than using the car, such as cycling and walking.

It is hoped the adviser would help to cut the number of cars on Bolton's roads, especially at the start and finish of the school day, and help to improve parking problems on streets near schools.

The adviser would work with every school in the borough to help heads develop their own travel strategy. Schools would put in place policies such as "walking buses" where parents walk with groups of children to school, car pooling or creating better awareness of public transport

Bolton's education chiefs have been awarded a £36,000 Government grant for two years to pay for marketing the scheme and the adviser's salary.

In a report, Margaret Blenkinsop, Director of Education, said: "It seems an ideal opportunity to recruit a Schools Travel Adviser toimprove the health and safety of children, influence the wider thinking of parents, teachers and governors, reduce atmospheric pollution and improve the well-being of people who live around schools."

It is hoped that by reducing car travel, pupils would become healthier through exercise and child obesity figures could be reduced.

Cllr Carole Swarbrick, executive member for education, will consider the proposals at a closed meeting next week.

The adviser would co-ordinate their activities with a regional adviser and a national government initiative to cut the school run.