£200k for Bucks Road Safety Training

19 April 2012, 09:25 | Updated: 20 April 2012, 05:09

5000 children in Buckinghamshire will soon be getting more road safety training thanks to £200,000 worth of funding.

£180,000 will come from the Department for Transport, with Buckinghamshire County Council footing the rest of the bill.

The cash will be used to deliver 'Bikeability' road training for children aged 9 to 14 and lessons in advanced cycling for secondary school children.

Councillors have described Bikeability as "cycling proficiency" for the 21st century.

Peter Hardy, Buckinghamshire County Council Cabinet Member for Transportation, said:

“We have an excellent track record in delivering Bikeability cycle training and this has been recognised by the Government in providing us with this funding from April. Bikeability provides local school children with essential cycling skills and road safety awareness.”

It comes as Heart's got hold of figures showing nearly 1000 children were hurt on the Thames Valley's roads last year, with more than 100 picking up serious injuries.