SOUTHAMPTON students have gone on strike as part of a global campaign calling for action over climate change.

Dozens of youngsters flocked to Guildhall Square in Southampton today to take part in the UK-wide Youth Strike 4 Climate action and call on the government to declare a climate emergency.

Students of all ages took part in the demonstration carrying banners bearing slogans such as: "The oceans are rising and so are we".

Southampton resident Emma Inskip took part in the protest with her daughter and son.

She said: "It's my children's future so they have a right to stand up for it. Everybody can make a change. I think we need more protests. People are just willing to hear and it takes something like this to make people listen."

The demonstration was organised by the Southampton branch of Extinction Rebellion.

A spokesman for the group said the event has been a success with 170 people taking part.

He added: "We were trying to provide a forum for young people as they cannot vote. We wanted them to say how they feel about climate issues. It is their future and wanted them to feel empowered about it."

The demonstration in Southampton was one of the many held across the country today.

The movement has already seen school strikes in Australia and European countries, and was inspired by teenager Greta Thunberg, who protests every Friday outside Sweden's parliament to urge leaders to tackle climate change.

It comes in the wake of a UN report which warned that limiting global temperature rises to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, beyond which climate impacts become increasingly severe.