Teenagers from two High Wycombe secondary schools came together to protest against the lack of work being done to fight climate change.

Students from the John Hampden School and the Wycombe High School stood outside the latter on Marlow Hill this morning (Friday, September 20), where they held signs and shared their views on the environment.

In total, over 100 students attended the protest where picket signs explaining the dangers of plastic and the importance of recycling were on show.

Max Hill, a 17-year-old student from John Hampden School said: “The protest today is about raising the awareness for climate change because it influences everyone.

“So, if we use our political power which includes holding a few signs outside of the school, then hopefully we’ll get some influence across and I do hope we raise a lot of awareness from the protest.

“I haven’t asked my teachers to take part in the protest even though I’ve got lessons scattered across the day.

“I’ll more than likely be late for them and if they say, ‘why are you late?’ and I’ll just reply back by saying, ‘I was trying to save the planet’.

“We’re hoping to make a difference and whether if it’s good or bad publicity, we’re trying to get our message across to help the planet.”

The climate change strike in Wycombe was not organised by the world-renowned Extinction Rebellion, who have protested all over the world in regards to the environment.

However, XR supporters did attend today’s peaceful protest.

Several cars drove past the group of students honking their horns and shouted their encouragement and support from their vehicles, which lead to huge cheers from the young protesters.

Ed Gemmell, who founded the movement called No Disposable Cup Day also attended the protest.

He told the Bucks Free Press: “I think the first thing is to support all the world climate strikers, as this is an issue for everybody in Wycombe, in the country and across the world.

“The second thing is, Wycombe hasn’t done enough to declare climate emergency when we get the new unitary council, as we need a climate emergency declared locally, before taking action on it, because the people of Wycombe do care about climate change, and I know they care for their children’s future.

“Also, plastic is a huge problem as it comes from oil, and using oil is adding to climate change problems and global heating.

“The point with plastic is that it’s getting out of control as it doesn’t decompose.

“Instead, it biodegrades into microgranules/microplastics which are now reaching the brains or animals and fish, which could then reach our brains, so we have to reuse or recycle all of our plastics.

“All the children/students who came today have got their futures in jeopardy because of what is happening with climate change.”