Students are planning to take to the streets in Colchester to demand action on climate change.

Young people will be marching through the town centre on Friday in an effort to raise awareness about the issue of global warning.

The event is one of dozens of marches being organised by YouthStrike4Climate across the country.

Protestors will meet at Colchester Castle at 11am before marching through key parts of the town centre, including High Street and Culver Street.

Organisers say an exact route has yet to be decided but the march will also finish outside the castle at around 12.30pm.

Those attending are invited to make their own placards and banners.

University of Essex student Joshua Fanner, who is helping to organise Friday’s peaceful protest, said: “We hope the politicians and global organisations will finally realise we will not allow them to lead us up a creek without a paddle.

“We think it’s an important issue, especially as Parliament seems to be too busy with Brexit at the moment to care.

“Climate change will not wait until tomorrow and nor will we.

“The politicians won’t act, so we need to.”

Students from all Colchester sixth forms, colleges and schools are all invited to attend the march, while parents of younger children are also encouraged to take part.

A protest march was previously held in the town back in March which saw an estimated 40 students and young people attend.

Should this week’s march prove a success, organisers have said they may look to make it a monthly or even fortnightly event.

YouthStrike4Climate says it is hosting a number of protest marches following the publication of several concerning reports released by scientists.

One report handed to the UN back in October called for an immediate reduction of planetary carbon emissions to halt the rise of global temperatures to 1.5C.

Experts say the effects of an increase of 2C would have a “detrimental impact” on insects, animals and their habitats.

They also fear there will be an increase in widespread wildfires, unpredictable and unseasonal weather and ice-free summers in the Arctic Sea.