Windermere schoolchildren get together for breakfast courtesy of local shoe business

Pupils from all four local primary schools sat down to a meal of pancakes, fresh fruit and cereal at the Marchesi Centre, before setting off on a walk to school. There were also hot drinks and bucks fizz for the adults!

The event was put on by Little bRogues, a local shoe business with a store on Birch Street, to thank the community for welcoming them when they set up shop in the town in 2017.

"I was overwhelmed with the response to the giant walk to school" said Simon Dernie, the owner of the business. "It was fantastic to see so many local children and their parents enjoying the sun and a healthy walk to school all together."

Members of the Little bRogues team greeting the breakfasters. Picture: Victoria Sedgwick

He added: "Windermere and Bowness is a special community and this morning was a great example of that."

Rachael Thomas, head of Elleray Campus at Windermere School, gave pupils special dispensation to start a little later than usual so that they could attend the event.

She said: "With children spending more and more time in cars, the chance to walk with friends was quite special. 

"The benefits of such a thing were obvious, not only from an environmental aspect but also the wellbeing of pupils and parents alike. 

A minion, SpongeBob SquarePants and characters from The Lego Movie were there to meet the children. Picture: Victoria Sedgwick

"Seeing the children playing together in the sunshine on the lawn before we set off for school was heartwarming.

"With a hearty breakfast and a generous 'goodie bag', it was a fantastic way to start the day for us all."

The event also coincided with ''Walk to School Week 2019', part of a wider campaign by Living Streets to inspire more people to walk.