SAFETY-conscious children competed in a Dragons’ Den-style event hosted by Hillingdon Council to try to win their school funds for road safety and sustainable travel improvements.

Teams of pupils aged 11-18 from Oak Wood School Park Academy in Uxbridge, Queensmead in South Ruislip, Guru Nanak Sikh Academy, Hayes, and Vyners School, Ickenham, took part in the Hillingdon Pioneers’ Challenge.

It took place in the lecture theatre of the Battle of Britain Bunker Exhibition and Visitor Centre in Uxbridge.

Each team of Travel Pioneer Ambassadors pitched its road safety idea to a panel of ‘Dragons’ including members of the council’s school travel and road safety education team and representatives from Transport for London and the transport industry.

Around 50 students took part, with ideas ranging from incentivised walking and cycling groups, to creating banners and holding coffee mornings to encourage the wider school community to travel more sustainably.

All schools achieved a share of the £3,356 funding for their projects, along with guidance from the Dragons.

Cllr Jonathan Bianco, Cabinet Member for Property, Highways and Transport, said: “It was brilliant to hear the range of thoughtful pitches from the ambassadors, who clearly share the council’s passion and commitment to creating safer roads.”

A similar event for Junior Travel Ambassadors, aged 8-11, will take place on Thursday, February 29, at the same venue.