SCHOOLS in Hampshire are to share a £1.5m cash windfall to encourage more pupils to walk, cycle or use public transport to and from school.

County council bosses have distributed the funds as part of the Safer Routes to School initiative. Among the schools to benefit from the cash will be Thornden School in Chandler's Ford, which will get £25,000 to pay for a project to widen the school entrance and Toynbee School, also in Chandler's Ford which will get £26,000 to pay for new cycle shelters.

Hounsdown School in the New Forest will get a £110,000 grant, while Perins School at Alresford will have safety improvements for pedestrians and cyclists worth £100,000.

County council director of environment Alison Quant said: "The schools on the 2005/2006 programme all have opportunities for work to be carried-out this year because they have completed travel plans to the required standard.

"We aim to work with all schools that are keen to commit to reducing the impact of the school run and promoting walking and cycling as part of a more healthy lifestyle and we hope to have similar levels of programme in future years."

She added: "Many of the actions identified in school travel plans are for the schools themselves to undertake, such as cycle and pedestrian training for pupils, but the SRTS programme provides funding for road safety measures that complement these actions in the areas around the schools.

"It's very pleasing to see so many schools working with the county council and being put forward for SRTS funding. It illustrates the advantages of the county council working with schools and local communities for the benefit of both pupils and residents."