Students from across Shropshire and Mid Wales joined a demonstration in Shrewsbury this Friday, March 15, to protest against the lack of action being taken over the climate change crisis.

Demonstrations took place across Powys, and the rest of country in a day of action which saw school and college students walk out of lessons to demand more action from government on the climate crisis.

One of the organisers of the Shrewsbury event was Jas Jones from Newtown, who attends college in the Shropshire town. Other students from Newtown, Llanfair Caereinion and Welshpool took part too.

"We need drastic action. Bigger laws. More effort is needed to plan for the future," said Jas.

"There aren't many young people in the government. The politicians are focused on their own lives rather than the future.

"We actively need to do something to sort it out."

The demonstration was part of the 'Youth Strike 4 Climate Global Strike' day of global action, and was held at the Quarry Park.

The worldwide movement began with Swedish schoolgirl Greta Thunberg, who has recently been nominated to receive this year's Nobel Peace Prize in her efforts to halt climate change.

The strike took place in hundreds of towns and cities across the world. However, it was only recently one was planned for Shrewsbury, after Jas noticed there wasn't one happening in her area for young people to get involved with.

Also joining the protest was Hannah Owen from Newtown.

She said: "I think that there's no point having education and making plans for the future if there isn't going to be a future."

Similar protests took place a month ago, with more than 10,000 students walking out of school across the UK.

The protest drew comment from political leaders across the spectrum, with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn backing the students.

"By taking to the streets today to make their voices heard, young people are educating us about how important tackling climate change is to their generation," he said.

"They are right to be worried about what kind of planet they will inherit and right to demand far-reaching action. Governments cannot sit back, leaving major decisions to market forces. It hasn’t worked and it never will.

"It’s past time all of us stopped looking the other way, learn from the passion and wisdom of young people and join them in actively organising for a better future."

However Prime Minister Theresa May criticised the protests as a "waste of lesson time".

"Everybody wants young people to be engaged in the issues that affect them most so that we can build a brighter future for all of us," the prime minister's official spokesperson said.

"But it is important to emphasise that disruption increases teacher's workloads and wastes lesson time that teachers have carefully prepared for."