Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones has helped launch a national roll-out of a scheme that is designed to increase the number of children who cycle to school.

Sustrans' Free Range Kids campaign has been awarded £250,000 worth of support from the Welsh Assembly Government, with more than 70 schools currently involved.

Each of the schools working with Sustrans are assigned a Bike It officer, who will draw up a tailor-made programme focusing on removing the barriers to cycling to school.

Jones said: "This is a great scheme that is a win - win for everyone. It gets our children on their bikes and exercising, while also easing congestion on our roads.

"That is why we are proud to provide financial support and wish the project all the best as it spreads across Wales."

Sustrans Cymru director Lee Waters said: "The pilot project has been a huge success, and we're extremely pleased to have been awarded the funding to enable us to roll the project out to other areas in Wales."

Details: www.sustrans.org.uk