Bike and scooter parking installed at schools

Bicycle and scooter parking spaces have been installed at schools across Leeds to encourage families to use environmentally-friendly means of transport.

Leeds City Council said 23 schools had received new secure facilities, including 320 bike parking spaces and 504 scooter spaces.

The work is part of a programme funded by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to support sustainable transport.

Councillor Jonathan Pryor, the council's deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, said: "It's fantastic to see pupils already benefiting from these new facilities."

The council said the latest phase would build on earlier work, with upgraded facilities now installed at 49 schools across the city.

In the past year, 11,235 young people received cycle training through council-run programmes.

The training was designed to give pupils the skills and confidence to choose alternatives to travelling by car.

The authority said almost 42% of children in the city lived within a 10 minute walk of their school.

"Ensuring children can travel to school safely and sustainably is a key priority and this is another important step in supporting families to choose healthier and more active travel," Pryor said.

"By giving more pupils the opportunity to walk, wheel, scoot or cycle, we're not only encouraging healthier journeys but also helping to build safer communities around our schools and across Leeds."

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.