AN MP has praised a junior school’s new parking scheme which has boosted the number of children walking to school.

Rayleigh and Wickford MP Mark Francois was impressed by the method during a visit to Wickford Junior School.

The scheme has helped to reduce the number of children being driven to school by their parents and as such has eased the parking situation.

Pupils who walk to school are given a token every morning and at the end of each month the class with most tokens is given a prize, competing to be crowned parking champions at the end of the year.

Mr Francois said: “I was so impressed with the scheme that I have written to all the headteachers in my constituency, in the hope that some of them may be able to take advantage of it.”