Almost 20 children have passed their pavement safety courses with flying colours during courses run by Reading Borough Council. The council's Pavement Safety Team put the young pedestrians, aged 10 and 11, through their paces during the free walking course. The children learnt about shoe safety, foot control skills, starting and stopping, turning left and right, overtaking and emergency stops.

Paul Gittings, Assistant Lead Councillor for Culture and Sport, said: "This was a very comprehensive programme of events. Walking is a great sport for youngsters both as a means of getting from Mummy's 4x4 to the school gates and for getting up to change channels when the remote goes missing. It is very important to learn the basics of pavement safety because quite frankly some of them are in a shocking state of repair. I am delighted that all the children who attended the training passed so that leaves only another 26,680 to go."

For more information on walking and pavement safety courses run by Reading Borough Council, go to www.reading.gov.uk or call (0118) 939 0451.