The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions wants to encourage a reduction in the number of parents driving children to and from school - journeys which are believed to account for a fifth of rush-hour traffic.

David Beckham would be primary school children's ideal lollipop man

It has been estimated by the government that the number of cars ferrying children to school has doubled in a decade.

The survey among seven to eleven year olds shows that 53% would enjoy meeting their friends on the way to school.

But only a rather reluctant 23% were enthused by the prospect of getting more exercise.

Among the negative factors of being taken to school by car, the greatest concern was getting stuck in traffic and that the school run generated so much pollution.

'Safe and healthy'

But despite the government's attempts to talk up the pleasures of walking to school, only 16% of pupils said that being driven from door to door was "boring" - suggesting that a much larger number were happy enough to let their parents drive them.

In an attempt to glamourise the image of the lollipop men and women, the survey also asked children to name their ideal lollipop people - choosing David Beckham and the pop group S Club 7.

In support of the the school walk, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions has launched a resource pack showing "safe and healthy alternatives" to the car.

"We all want to see our children travel to school in safety, and to be offered greater choices and healthy options," said Transport Minister Keith Hill.

"We are keen that children should be free to walk to school, accompanied by adults where appropriate, and our research shows that youngsters want to walk."