A new approach to keeping kids safe and tackling congestion on the roads is being expanded.

Yellow buses have become a familiar sight on the streets of one part of West Yorkshire during a successful pilot scheme.

Car use has fallen by more than 60 per cent and take-up has been particularly high in remote areas not previously served by public transport.

The high-visibility yellow buses are single deck and fully accessible, reminiscent of the classic American school style. Fares are subsidised, each pupil has a seatbelt and the bus is fitted with CCTV.

There is also a register of all the pupils who travel on the bus so parents can call a special hotline if their child is going to be absent - or drivers can phone if a youngster is not at their usual pick-up point.

A further batch of buses will be taking to the roads later this year and Transport Secretary Alistair Darling hopes other regions will adopt the scheme. "At ten to nine in the morning around one in five cars on the road is on the school run and we are all aware of the extra congestion this causes in the rush hour," he said. "This provides a real alternative for children and will make the distinctive yellow school buses an increasingly common - and welcome - site on the road."

He also pointed out that the scheme has environmental and safety benefits for everyone.

Pilot schemes have been carried out in various counties across the UK, some only using parts of the Yellow Bus package.