HUNDREDS of people, including schoolchildren, marched through Newport today (Friday) — joining millions taking to the streets worldwide as part of the School Strike for Climate protest.

People in more than 150 countries took part in demonstrations, inspired by the actions of 16-year-old Swedish environmental activist, Greta Thunberg.

The movement has continued to grow — with students across the globe peacefully refusing to attend lessons until their voices are heard, and taking to the streets in protest at their respective governments' failure to tackle climate change.

On the Isle of Wight, protesters gathered in St Thomas' Square and marched to the beat of drums to Church Litten.

A number of schools took part, including The Bay CE School, Sandown, Newport CE Primary School, Lanesend Primary School, Cowes, and the Island Free School, Ventnor.

Young people gave speeches, carried placards and posters they had made themselves, and chanted as they marched through the town.

Julie Hutchison, of Extinction Rebellion Isle of Wight, was one of those who attended the event.

She said: “Today shows our young people care about climate change, they took the lead and made sure they were heard.

“October 7 will see the start of the October Rebellion, where we make our demands to government to tell the truth about the situation we are in, to tell the truth about the ecological emergency, to go zero carbon by 2025, and to form a citizen’s assembly to oversee the changes that we need to make.”

More than 200 events and demonstrations have been held across the UK — ahead of a UN climate summit in New York next week — to promote awareness of climate change and demand political action to curb contributing factors to climate change, namely carbon emissions.

The official Global Climate Strike website described the movement as, 'a joint response by a broad coalition of groups, NGOs, unions and social movements across the world to young people’s call to action.'

Don't forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.