Hundreds of pupils protest over climate change

Hundreds of schoolchildren across the East have walked out of lessons to demand action over climate change.

The national protest, called 'Youth Strike 4 Climate', was led by a coalition of campaigners who are calling on the Government to declare "a state of climate emergency".

More than 30 towns and cities across the country, including Norwich and Cambridge took part in the protest.

A global day of action is due to follow on March 15.

The protest comes in the wake of a UN report which warned that limiting global temperature rises to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, beyond which climate impacts become increasingly severe, requires unprecedented action.That includes cutting global carbon dioxide emissions by almost half within 12 years.

The protest had the backing of wildlife presenter Chris Packham.

Outside Cambridgeshire County Council's offices, a demonstratorled chants of "Whose future? Our future" and "Hey, ho, fossil fuels have gotto go."

Jasper Giles, a six-year-old pupil at University of Cambridge Primary School, attended with his mother Alissia Roberts.

She said: "I think it's worth taking a day off school to show support for thismovement, I think it's really important and it will gather momentum."

Ten-year-old Zachary Hird, a pupil at Cambridge's Newnham Croft Primary School, was at the protest with his mother Diane.

He said:

Asked how he felt about missing lessons for the day, he said: "I feel climatechange is more important - the world dying is a lot more bad than just, yeah."

• Watch Kate Prout's report about the protests in the East of the region

The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) said it supported the right of young people to express themselves but it did not condone students being out of the classroom to take action.

• Watch an interview with Geoff Barton from the Association of School and College Leaders