Schools are being encouraged to sign up to take part in The Big Pedal 2019, which takes place on March 25 to April 5.

The event encourages pupils, parents and staff to use "human power" to make the journey to school, and calls on them to cycle, scoot or, for the first time this year, walk to school.

Journeys are logged on The Big Pedal website and are ranked daily against other schools in Cumbria, the North West and the UK.

The initiative is organised by national cycling charity Sustrans and supported by Cumbria County Council's Active Travel team.

During last year's event, more than a million journeys were logged nationally. Forty two schools in Cumbria logged 10,529 bike journeys and 9,424 trips by scooter, with supporting families logging a further 2,918 journeys.

The theme for this year's challenge focuses on health, and all schools entering the competition will receive a human body wallchart with curriculum-based fact cards as well as posters, top tips and daily classroom activities to stimulate their learning.

Judith Aris, Active Travel officer at Cumbria County Council, said: "The Big Pedal event is a brilliant way to get children thinking about their physical health and wellbeing, and ditching the car to get to school is a great way to start! For the first year walking journeys will now count as well, so we are hoping to get some new schools signing up for the first time.

"Not only is it good for the environment, but travelling actively to school results in healthier and fitter children, and we hope they will carry this habit in to their teens and adulthood. This is not just about the children but their families and staff too."

The council's Active Travel team is offering a prize to the first Cumbrian schools on the leader board. Winning schools will receive a school visit, workshop and demonstration from professional flatland BMX rider and three times Guinness World Record holder Matti Hemmings.

To celebrate the finale of the challenge there is also the option to join in with a superhero day by submitting photos of pupils dressed as superheroes on their bikes, scooters or walking to school. A £100 Halfords voucher will be up for grabs for the best photo on the day.

Prizes are up for grabs.

Schools can join the scheme at www.bigpedal.org.uk and click on Cumbria County Council as the local authority.