PARENTS in Frodsham are being encouraged to ditch their cars for the school run on Thursday (June 17), which is Clean Air Day.

The plea is part of Cheshire West and Chester Council's support for the national day of action aimed at making a difference to air quality in the borough.

This year's theme for the day, organised by the national charity Global Action Plan, is protecting children's health and the council's road safety team wants parents and carers to reduce the number of vehicles outside schools by walking, cycling or scootering all or part of their journeys.

The council says if people do have to drive then they should try parking away from the school and avoid engine idling.

The council's Breath of Fresh Air campaign explains how turning a vehicle's engine off while stationary protects the health of people in their cars and on the pavement.

The council's deputy leader and cabinet member for environment, highways and strategic transport, Cllr Karen Shore said: "Clean Air Day is the perfect opportunity to promote walking, cycling or scootering to school to cut down pollution at the school gates and also to make the school run safer for children.

"We can all do our bit to make our difference to air quality in the borough, so please think how you could use other methods of travel for all or part of your journey.

"Also be aware of the effects engine idling has on your health, the health of people around you and the environment. If you're parked up, please switch your engine off."

The council has a Low Emission Strategy to tackle air pollution in the borough, which includes recently installed charging points for electric vehicles in car parks across the borough, including Moor Lane car park in Frodsham.

Drivers of electric vehicles are now able to recharge their cars using fast GeniePoint chargers, installed and managed by ENGIE EV Solutions.

This supports the council's Climate Emergency agenda and its target for the borough to be carbon neutral by 2045.