Relations between older and younger bus passengers can be a bit bumpy, but schoolchildren in Hounslow are doing their bit to bridge the generation gap.

Pupils across the borough were challenged to come up with ways to improve transport for young people as part of Transport for London's Travel Ambassadors programme.

They pitched their ideas yesterday (Tuesday, January 20) in a Dragons' Den style competition at the Holiday Inn, in Brentford, to a panel of council leaders, police chiefs and transport officers.

Teams from Feltham Community College; Gumley House Convent School, in Isleworth; St Mark's, in Hounslow; and Brentford School for Girls each secured £300 to make their projects a reality after emerging unscathed from their encounter with the 'dragons'.

Top of the agenda was improving relations between schoolchildren and older passengers by addressing the preconceptions which exist on both sides.

Pupils at the first three schools all plan to produce films challenging stereotypes and highlighting simple steps passengers young and old can take to get along, from not blaring out loud music on their mobiles to smiling and making an effort to talk to one another.

The films will be shared via YouTube and also shown in schools and at Brentford bus garage, where older passengers and bus drivers will be invited to attend screenings.

They will also be accompanied by workshops, at which participants will be encouraged to make pledges, like giving up their seats for older passengers.

Students at Brentford School for Girls will run road safety workshops for their peers and at local primary schools, where they will don superhero costumes to drive home the message.

Michael Kitchen, TfL's north and west London youth travel ambassador coordinator, said the pupils' pitches would not have looked out of place in the professional arena.

"They are all excellent projects and being student-led we hope the important messages will be better taken on board because they're coming from people their own age," he added.

"Young people have better networks for spreading these messages among their peers, and in doing so they can gain valuable workplace skills like project management and public speaking."