Pupils from Newdale Primary School took part in a walking school bus

Hundreds of children from Shropshire schools were stepping out today in an attempt to create the largest “walking bus” in an bid to slow down speeding drivers.

A total of 245 children at Shifnal Primary School, 60 youngsters at Tilstock CE Primary School, Tilstock, near Whitchurch, and more youngsters from Newdale Community Campus in Telford, were walking from their school gates as part of the world record bid.

The aim of the event, organised by road safety charity Brake, is to raise awareness of the number of children killed and hurt on foot by fast traffic, and to raise funds for the charity’s work supporting families bereaved and injured by road crashes.

The charity says between five and six children are killed or seriously injured while walking every day on UK roads.

More than 100,000 children around the UK were expected to take part in the event at 10am today. The event also hopes to break the current record of 57,476 children and raise more than £70,000 for Brake’s support services, including its helpline.

Mary Williams, chief executive of Brake, said: “Brake supports parents whose children have been killed by speeding drivers and families whose children have lost limbs, been paralysed, and been permanently and horrendously brain injured by speeding drivers.

“Through this event we are urging drivers to take time out to think of these children and to make a commitment to always drive at 20mph or lower around schools and communities. You never know when a child might make a mistake and run out; your slower driving could save their life.”