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This years massively popular Walk to School week aims to celebrate how walking, rather than driving, to school makes a big contribution towards cutting pollution.

The national launch, held at a school in Lambeth on Monday 21 May, will centre around a giant inflatable globe ? at 2 metres diameter it dwarfs the pupils that will be playing with it, but its size shows the volume of carbon dioxide produced by an average weeks school run.

Similar events will be held throughout the country, featuring similar globes, ensuring the message gets out all over Britain.

In terms of local air pollution, the school run is one of the worst offenders. It's those short, stop-start journeys with cold engines which are the most polluting ? pumping out carbon monoxide, particulates and other compounds that are linked to worsening asthma and poor air quality.

Contrary to what some might believe, being cocooned in a car offers no protection from local pollution ? in fact pollutants found inside the car are around three times higher than those experienced by pedestrians. The campaign asks people to leave those keys by the door and Walk to School ? and judging by the number of schools involved this year it's the pupils that will be leading the way.

Andrew Fielding, Walk to School Co-ordinator, said:

?We're encouraging people around the country to use Walk to School week to try out walking with their kids. Walking to school isn't just great for the environment, it's great for you too ? walking for those 30mins a day means real quality time together, and the average walk there and back will burn more calories than the school's PE quota. Give it a go and see how you find it, we doubt you'll want to go back to the traffic jams afterwards!?