CONEY Green Technology College has taken another step to banishing couch potatoes.

The school, in Spring Lane, has upgraded its walking and cycling route, in a bid to encourage people to take more exercise.

Bury Council built the path to encourage walking and cycling to school and to the Metrolink station, as part of its sustainable travel scheme.

The path is part of the borough's Greenway network outlined in the area's urban development plans and quiet' cycle network' as proposed in the council's cycling strategy.

Known locally as the banana path -- because it is yellow and bendy -- the one-kilometre route runs along the former railway line from Ainsworth Road, over the canal to the school.

At a cost of £180,000, it has been extended, surfaced and lit with the help of Sustrans, the cycling charity, and a grant from the New Opportunities Lottery Fund, which will enable the path to be used all year round.

At the same time, the bridge over the canal has been restored for the first time in years and additional bike stands have been provided at the school, where there is now parking for 40 cycles.

Mayor of Bury Councillor Wilf Davison opened the path on Thursday of last week, during National Bike Week, when he presented prizes to pupils for their work on travel to school and charity fund-raising.

Sally March, head of history at Coney Green, said: "The school is already taking advantage of the banana path to promote walking and cycling."