UK schools banning school run to protect pupils from air pollution

Thousands of schools closing roads and setting up park and stride schemes

Schools across the country are moving to ban the school run amid growing concern about the devastating impact of air pollution on young people's health.

The Guardian has found that thousands of schools in cities and towns - from Edinburgh to London, Manchester to Ellesmere Port - are taking measures to try to deter parents using their cars. These include closing roads, setting up "park and stride" schemes, walk-to-school initiatives and "playing dead" protests.