Ilkley has come top of the class in tackling traffic congestion on the school run.

The town is a blueprint for the rest of the country after measures to beat transport problems proved a major success.

The introduction of the popular American-style Yellow Bus scheme to ferry youngsters to class - which is now set to be extended across West Yorkshire - spearheaded the School Travel Plans which have been adopted by three primaries in the Ilkley area.

The Travel Plans, implemented by Ashlands, All Saints C of E and Ben Rhydding primaries, aimed to encourage pupils to walk, cycle or catch the bus to school.

And the measures have reduced the number of school car journeys by 20 per cent; increased the number of children who walk and cycle to school; and seen five times as many youngsters using public transport, mainly thanks to the Yellow Bus scheme.

More than half of all school journeys at the three primaries are now completed by walking, with cycling accounting for three per cent.

Ilkley has now earned top marks in the initiative and is being recommended by the Department of Transport as an example to other areas nationwide.

Bradford Council's Executive member for Environment, Coun Anne Hawkesworth, said: "By working together, we've made a good start to reduce the congestion caused by the school run and help make Ilkley a healthier and more pleasant environment for everyone."

A combination of education, training, publicity and engineering works have been carried out in response to issues raised. They include new pedestrian crossings outside Ashlands and All Saints and 'walking bus' routes for pupils at All Saints and Ben Rhydding.

More pupils are getting on their bikes due to cycle training, health education and secure cycle storage schemes and even more are expected to join them when a new cycle store opens at Ben Rhydding in the autumn.

The Yellow Bus pilot scheme has increased public transport school journeys from two to ten per cent.

The improvements have come about through a link-up between staff, pupils and parents at the three schools and Metro, Keighley and District Travel, Bradford Council, Education Bradford and the Healthy Schools programme.

Schemes in the pipeline include the creation of a school safety zone at Ben Rhydding; a pedestrian and cycle entrance at Ashlands; extra 'walking bus' routes; a second Yellow Bus route; more traffic calming; car sharing and 'park and stride' sites.

Ashlands headteacher Jenny McDonough said: "The Travel Plan is part of the school's commitment to educate the 'whole' child."