CONGESTION caused by the school run is to be tackled by a specialist Bury Council employee.

Jayne Stuart has been recruited as the authority's first dedicated school travel plans co-ordinator in a scheme backed by the Government.

Short, pollution-rich journeys by parents driving their children to school are said to comprise about 30 per cent of peak-time traffic congestion.

Jayne will encourage schools to promote "green" travel to school for both staff and children. Grants are available to schools which produce their unique travel plans to swap the car for walking, cycling or public transport.

She said: "I am working with some enthusiastic forward-thinking schools and parents and the response to travel plans so far has been very encouraging."

Lisa Houghton, the council's travel co-ordinator, said the authority's own staff, along with NHS and private sector workers, were also being encouraged to car-share.