Pupils across Leicestershire showcase their artistic talents

The contest was run by the county council’s active travel brand, Choose How You Move.

Children of all ages designed eco-banners to be displayed outside their school.

The eye-catching signs encourage parents, teachers, youngsters and passers-by to choose walking, cycling and other alternatives to using the car.

Cllr Blake Pain, county council cabinet member for environment and transport, is seen here popping in to Fleckney Primary School.

He presented their winning banner to Ava Machett in Year 4 as he heard about the school’s hard work to urge pupils and parents to take up active travel.

On his visit, Cllr Pain said: “Every year we run this competition it gets bigger and better than before.

“It is obvious from the entries that students across Leicestershire really understand the message of active and sustainable travel and why it is so important.”

He added: “Travelling actively to school has many benefits.

“They include reducing congestion and improving road safety as well as helping students' concentration and reaching the recommended daily amount of exercise. “Congratulations to all who took part.

“I am sure these fantastic banners will have people thinking twice about taking their car.”

The Choose How You Move team encourages schools to implement initiatives to make it easier to walk, cycle, car share and take public transport to school.

Tim Leah, headteacher at Fleckney Primary, said: "Congratulations to Ava and our runners-up Daisy, Iris, Tim and Ebba.

“We are very keen to support the campaign for active travel at our school.”

He added: “We want our children to lead healthy lives and to reduce congestion outside of the school gates.

“Ava's banner 'Glide don't drive' captured this brilliantly."

Alongside schools, the council is committed to cutting carbon emissions, boosting air quality and becoming carbon neutral by 2030.