FOUR primary schools have been shortlisted for a top award to mark their efforts in encouraging parents to leave their cars at home and instead walk their children to school.

Three Oldbury schools and Old Hill Primary School are among 10 Sandwell schools in the running for an award and the chance to see a showing of Pawprint Theatre’s The Walking Cowboy.

The borough’s road safety team challenged primary schools to tell them about what they had been doing to promote safe, sustainable and active travel to school throughout the year.

The Walking Cowboy is produced by West Midlands based Theatre in Education Company Pawprint Theatrical Productions and has been developed to captivate and educate children about road safety, sustainable travel and the health benefits of walking.

The winning school will also be awarded the Roland Vernon, MBE, Award for Excellence in School Travel recognising its efforts to encourage pupils to walk to school.

Projects have included work by Old Hill Primary School where the school council set up five and 10 minute walking routes with the road safety team.

The Shortlisted Oldbury schools are St Francis Xavier Primary, Moat Farm Juniors and Lightwoods Primary School. The winner will be chosen this week as part of Walk to School Week.