Special walk to school events will take place this month as part of a national initiative to back the 2018 World Cup bid - and Luciano Becchio and Fede Bessone kicked things off by joining children from Thorner C of E Primary School on Tuesday to launch the Walk to School month in Leeds.

Nearly 50 schools will take part in the annual month-long event designed to encourage more parents, children and young people to walk to school to help improve health and fitness and reduce the impact on the environment and congestion levels.

Fede said: "I think it's a good idea and a very good thing for the children to be a part of. It's nice to come and see them and say hello. If we can help with things like this it's great."

Luciano added: "It's always good meeting the kids and it's nice to see them all happy."

Councillor Keith Wakefield, leader of Leeds City Council, said: "Schools across the Leeds City Region have done a great job in getting behind England's bid to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup - and this is another opportunity to show their support.

"Walk to School month allows children to arrive at school safely, take part in healthy exercise and helps reduce congestion and the impact on the environment. This year it's being used to support England's 2018 World Cup bid and by working with Leeds United, we hope to get as many children as possible to back the bid by walking to school."

All schools that take part will receive a large football poster to be signed by every child who walks into school with every signature contributing towards the national support for England's bid to be the host country for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. There will also be a city wide poster competition for pupils to enter.

On the World Cup bid, Fede said: "English people live for football and it's a great chance for England to stage the competiton and maybe even win the World Cup!"

See more on the bid this week...