But a new five-year-plan is being drawn up to make the 'school run' by foot and bicycle safer and easier for everyone.

At Clapham Terrace on any given morning a steady stream of parents can be seen shepherding their young ones to school.

The school is unusual - nationally, only one in ten children walks or cycles to school today compared with seven in ten 20 years ago.

This fact, coupled with rising asthma and childhood obesity levels, has led Warwickshire County Council to find ways of cutting congestion and creating 'healthier' travel options.

It is pulling together many different initiatives within the plan, which is supported by members of the county council's cabinet.

Coun Martin Heatley (Con, Nuneaton Whitestone), the county councillor who is responsible for the environment said: "We are all aware of the problems. One in four cars on our roads in the mornings during term time are on the school run, causing congestion and pollution in our towns and villages.

The strategy aims to reduce the number of people using cars to for 'educational purposes'.

Information on all travel schemes currently running will be made available and the benefits of cycling and walking publicised.

County council officers will also be looking into how travel options for children and young people can be improved across the county. For more information and to comment visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/travelwise

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Richard Orme and his seven-year-old son Jim cycle to Clapham Terrace Primary School from their Archery Road home.Mr Orme said: "We go on the roads and along the canal. Some parts are fine, others aren't - it could be a lot better.

"The planners should get on their bikes and see how difficult it is to cross certain junctions."

Caroline Luckehurst cycles with her sons Toby, ten, and eight-year-old Noah from Radford Road. She said: "We go on the pavement, there's no way I would let them go on the road. I would like them to be more independent - a cycle lane would be good."

Alyson Stibbard of St Mary's Crescent has four children. She walks her youngest, Cameron, five, to school, but 15-year-old Lachlan cycles to Kenilworth School and Max, 16, cycles to Trinity School in Guys Cliffe Avenue.

Mrs Stibbard said: "A cyclepath to Kenilworth would make a big difference. There is a pavement but the trees overhang and don't get cut back. There isn't really a safe way to Trinity and it takes children from all over the area."