Police in Bristol can't guarantee adequate safety measures at Greta Thunberg youth climate protest

Police say they can't guarantee adequate safety measures when climate activist Greta Thunberg joins a mass protest through the streets of Bristol on Friday.

In a letter sent to parents they admit the Youth Strike 4 Climate demonstration could bring large parts of Bristol to a standstill.Greta Thunberg is expected to give a speech on College Green and then join a protest march through the city.

It is not known how big the protest will be, but 60,000 people turned out to see the seventeen-year-old when she joined a protest in Hamburg.

People are expected to travel from across the country to attend, and police have urged all parents to ensure their children are properly supervised.

Supt. Andy Bennet, Avon and Somerset Police said, "The event has grown so large, that usual controls, stewarding and safety measures that are routinely put in place are unlikely to be scaled up adequately. Therefore those attending will need to make their own informed decisions. "

Park Street and a section of the city centre will be closed. The march is expected to go from College Green to Broadmead and then back again.

It is expected to cause 'significant traffic disruption'.

Police say the organisers of the event are unlikely to be able to provide the promised areas suitable for primary school children and the disabled, saying, this is 'probably unachievable'.

Greta Thunberg founded the youth strike movement in 2018 after she sat in solitude outside the Swedish Parliament building.

Millions of students across the world have since participated in strikes held in cities such as London, Paris and Madrid - as well as here in the West Country.