SCHOOLS in Greater Manchester are to get cash help to develop novel ways to getting children to school - without clogging up roads with the school run.

Transport Secretary Alistair Darling promised '10m for schemes to provide "greener, safer and healthier" ways to travel to school.

These include safe cycle routes, with secure storage for bicycles at schools, "walking buses" where pupils walk together with volunteers, and "park and stride" schemes, where parents drop children off to be escorted into school.

More than 230 schools, including some in Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Cheshire, will benefit from the cash through Sustrans, a charity which is building a national cycle network.

Mr Darling said he wanted to encourage more cycling, to improve health and reduce school congestion and pollution.

"We need to persuade more children and their parents that they can cycle to school safely," said Mr Darling.

Education Secretary Charles Clarke said twice as many children were driven to school now then 20 years ago, with serious health implications due to lack of exercise and more children overweight.

Schools in Manchester - in Hulme, Fallowfield, Fairfield, Gorton and Wythenshawe - will benfirt from the '10m campaign, along with Canon Sharples school in Wigan, Wilmslow High school and the Wyche Primary and Malbank High school in Nantwich.