A big baby is the latest recruit to North Yorkshire County Council's TravelWise team, in a campaign aiming to make us think about how we use our cars.

Following a successful Arts Council England bid, extra funds have been given to promote travel awareness in the County.

Baby don't cry: The latest recruit in
North Yorkshire's Travelwise campaign

Created by top British Sculptor Johnny White, the crying baby will be positioned in a heavily modified car that speaks for itself. The baby will be thinking things such as -

"Does it surprise you that the pollution inside this car is 3 times more than outside?"

The specially modified vehicle will include moving dummies, extending 'thought bubbles', and a few other surprises.

The baby in the car will visit a number of schools across North Yorkshire, where children will work with specialist art teachers to personalise the sculpture before it goes on show in their market town.

The aim of the project is to encourage people to take a critical, questioning look at their surroundings and to consider whether the car is always the best choice of transport when taking a trip - walking, cycling or using public transport might be healthier, less expensive and more fun is the message behind the campaign.

Councillor Clare Wood, the County Council's executive member for environmental services, said: "We are delighted to be the only council in Britain to have won Arts Council funding for this type of work.

"Imagine the excitement for schools engaging with one of UK's best artists and then seeing their work on display".

The modified vehicle and its 'big baby' sculpture will be visiting market towns across North Yorkshire throughout the summer.