IT will help save the planet while sparing your wallet.

Hundreds of Hampshire drivers are being challenged to transform their regular commute to work.

For the entire month of May commuters will ditch their cars and switch to walking, cycling, car-sharing and public transport.

The My Journey Commuter Challenge, which is open to businesses, organisations and individuals, is being launched on Thursday, May 1, to help workers save money and the environment.

It will also enable them to improve their health and fitness and provide a welcome detour to break the monotonous daily grind.

Last year more than 1,500 people nationwide took up the challenge and travelled a combined 250,000 miles together.

Their environmentally friendly journeys saved them £70,000 on their regular commuting costs and they burned 4,000,000 calories.

Both Hampshire County Council and Southampton City Council are supporting the challenge, run in partnership with green travel charity Sustrans.

It is open to everyone in the county with people taking part individually and in teams.

Participants log journeys on to an online leaderboard with the greatest number of trips winning prizes.

Journeys of less than one mile cannot be logged. That is generally 20 minutes of walking or ten minutes by bike.

But people can register a work at home day if it prevents them from travelling to work by car on their own.

Parents are being encouraged to walk and cycle with their children on the school run.

Participants can also serve as My Journey champions who will receive a pack containing posters and worksheets to encourage their colleagues and friends to join.

Individual workplaces can also arrange bespoke competitions for their employees.

This year organisers are offering the chance to win a third off bus and rail travel as an incentive to get people on the move.

Register at myjourneysouthampton.com/challenge.