According to council figures, there were 2,000 fewer vehicles on Skipton Road alone last Wednesday.

The initiative, which was designed to promote alternative forms of transport, saw politicians, police and schoolchildren alike travelling by bus, by bike or on foot.

A traffic survey, carried out by the council on Wednesday, September 24 and released yesterday, showed that 2,090 fewer cars travelled along Skipton Road on Car Free Day than on a normal day – a reduction of 9.7 per cent.

Remarkable

Pannal Ash Road saw a drop of 393 vehicles, or 5.6 per cent, while Beechwood Grove was also quieter than usual, experiencing a 6.2 per cent reduction in cars: 26 fewer vehicles.

Committee member Malcolm Margolis said: "This is a fantastic achievement by the people of Harrogate.

"It's a remarkable result.

"This is more than we could reasonably have hoped for and we're looking forward to even more success next year."

The organisers have already started planning for next year's event, pencilled in for Tuesday September 22, 2009.

Statistics from local groups emphasise just how many people took the Car Free Day message on board this year.

Outstanding

Sixty staff at St Aidan's School left their cars behind, a reduction of 39 per cent, while 19 children at Harrogate 14th (Woodlands) Beaver Scouts travelled by green means, compared to six the previous week.

Oatlands Junior School incorporated Car Free Day into an Eco-Week, with pupils learning about wind turbines and racing solar powered cars around the playground.

"The support of schools was outstanding," Mr Margolis said.

Harrogate businesses also did their bit, with 94 per cent of employees at RHS Garden Harlow Carr travelling to work on bus, on foot or by car share – saving 110 car miles in the process – and 15 workers at Procter & Gamble leaving their cars in the garage.