Schools in South Gloucestershire are to get a share of nearly £120,000 to encourage children to walk, cycle or catch the bus.

The schools – 22 primaries, one junior and two secondaries – are the latest to be rewarded for their efforts to stop parents driving their children to school.

South Gloucestershire Council granted the money after the schools submitted travel plans.

Each will introduce measures aimed at cutting the amount of congestion outside schools, which is often a problem when drivers have to park around houses.

School leaders want children to walk or cycle to school wherever possible because it is also healthier for them.

But they recognise the need to provide pupils with safe routes – the travel plans indicate how that will be done.

Other steps to be taken include the introduction of road markings to improve safety near school buildings and the provision of storage areas for bikes within school grounds.

Pupils will also be taught about the importance of sustainable transport.

And schools with sixth forms are trying to persuade their students not to drive themselves to school.

The council worked with the schools to draw up their individual plans before submitting them to the Department for Children, Schools and Families for approval.

A typical project to be funded is the upgrading and installation of cycle storage facilities and cycle training at Downend School.

Another, The Castle School in Thornbury, will use its money to improve lighting outside its buildings for those arriving on foot or by bike.

Lighting will be especially useful in the winter and for those who use the school buildings in the evening.

"These grants are good news for schools," said South Gloucestershire's executive member for planning, transport and environment, Brian Allinson.

"They have worked hard on their bids, with support from the council, and the travel plans will help to introduce safer, greener and healthier routes to schools while helping to cut congestion on our roads."

More than 90 schools in South Gloucestershire have applied for travel plan grants since the council introduced the scheme.

They have received about £500,000 to carry out schemes to reduce reliance on cars.

The South Gloucestershire schools to share the cash are: St Mary's Primary, Thornbury; Christ the King Primary, Thornbury; St Helen's Primary, Alveston; St Chad's Primary, Patchway; Holy Family Primary, Patchway; Callicroft Primary, Patchway; Almondsbury Primary; Bowsland Green Primary, Bradley Stoke; Charborough Road Primary, Filton; Raysfield Junior, Chipping Sodbury; Rodford Primary, Yate; Beacon Rise Primary, Kingswood; Barrs Court Primary; Tortworth Primary; Old Sodbury Primary; Cherry Garden Primary, Bitton; St Paul's Primary, Yate; Stoke Lodge Primary, Patchway; The Meadows Primary, Bitton; Redfield Edge Primary, Oldland Common; St Barnabas Primary, Warmley; Hawkesbury Primary, Hawkesbury Upton; The Castle School, Thornbury, and Downend School.