Rosemary Butler joined 200 Caerleon schoolchildren to help promote a series of initiatives aimed at traffic reduction and the creation of new cycle routes and footpaths.

The "In Town Without My Car" day in Caerleon on September 21 was organised by Newport City Council as part of a campaign to encourage children to walk to school in "walking buses".

It was also used to promote the Welsh Assembly's "Safe Routes to School" strategy and a plan by Sustrans Cymru, the sustainable transport charity to build a series of cycle routes between Newport and Wentwood, through Caerleon.

Rosemary joined pupils from Caerleon Endowed School and Caerleon Comprehensive School on their supervised walk through Caerleon.

Rosemary Butler says the link up between organisations which all have the same objective in mind - fewer car journeys and the promotion of safe, clean transport - is to be welcomed.

"The fact that Newport City Council's "In Town Without My Car" scheme, the Assembly funded "Safe Routes to School" programme and Sustrans' imaginative 'Connect2' plan to build cycle and walking routes in the area are all being jointly promoted shows how much can be done with the right sort of cooperation," she said.

"Road safety for schoolchildren is obviously one of our most important objectives, but sustainable transport, a healthier lifestyle and a better environment for everybody must go hand in hand with this."