A WEBSITE launched in Dorset to help children on the school run has been singled out for praise by the Government.

The website, developed by Dorset County Council, promotes the TravelWise Walk to School campaign, which encourages a healthier lifestyle for pupils combined with a greater awareness of environment matters.

The Internet forum also allows parents and teachers to discuss educational, health, environmental and safety issues about the school run. It acts as an educational resource and is used by council workers to keep up to date on arrangements for children getting to school.

Transport Minister Sally Keeble announced substantial Government funding for the website last week, which will pay for the maintenance of the site for the next two years.

She said: "The Government is keen to encourage parents and children to think about the way they travel to school and to make healthy and environmentally friendly travel choices whenever possible. We are therefore extremely keen to support this project.

"The Walk to School campaign website takes forward our objective of encouraging more children to walk to school for health reasons, where it is safe to do so."

The leader of Dorset County Council, Timothy Palmer, is delighted that the website has become a success story.

He said: "I am extremely pleased that the website is developing so well and that it has such a high level of support.

"We are very keen to encourage children to walk to school, if it is safe to do so, and that is why we got involved in the Walk to School campaign.

"We can cut down on traffic and pollution problems if more children walk to school, and we can also tackle the issue of parent confidence.

"We run other initiatives such as the Walking Bus, which involves gathering together children who then walk as a group to school, under the supervision of an adult.

"We are working in partnership with the website on a number of levels to address the issue of children getting to school safely and healthily.

"To visit the website, go to www.walktoschool.org.uk."