Pupils in and around Norwich who use a congestion-busting bus service to get to school could win a Christmas present of �100.Youngsters using Norfolk County Council's “school run park and ride” scheme can enter the “all I want for Christmas” draw by posting their bus ticket in an entry box at school.

Pupils in and around Norwich who use a congestion-busting bus service to get to school could win a Christmas present of �100.

Youngsters using Norfolk County Council's “school run park and ride” scheme can enter the “all I want for Christmas” draw by posting their bus ticket in an entry box at school.

The competition runs until December 9 and a winner will be drawn on December 11.

The competition has been launched by the council's travel plan team to encourage more pupils to use the service, which allows youngsters to travel for a 50p single fare or �1 return from any of the park and ride sites during term time to and from school.

A few years after its launch, the scheme has proved a success, with more than 1,000 tickets sold each month and traffic being reduced around several schools.

Adrian Gunson, cabinet member for planning and transportation, said: “School run park and ride is aimed particularly at schools whose pupils travel in from across the county. The aim is to reduce congestion outside schools and in the city centre.

“It is just one of the ways in which our travel plan team is encouraging pupils and parents to avoid using the car on the school run if at all possible.”

Schools involved are Town Close School, Notre Dame High School, Norwich School, Norwich High School for Girls, Langley Preparatory School and Thorpe House School.

Any other Norwich schools with large catchment areas that would like to participate can contact the travel plan team at schooltravelplan@norfolk.gov.uk.