Children as young as 10 “put politicians to shame” by organising their very own climate protest.

About a dozen young people led by 12-year-old Ada Wood took to Carlisle city centre yesterday to demand policymakers take notice of the ongoing wave of youth protest currently sweeping the globe.

Originally inspired by 16-year-old Swedish student Greta Thunberg, strikes were staged across the UK and beyond last month, and again yesterday.

Leading Carlisle’s contribution to the worldwide movement yesterday was Ada, who took it upon herself to bring the youth strike to the city.

“The strikes last month were all over Cumbria, but not in the city centre,” Ada, of Roadhead, explained.

“I went to one in Newcastle in February, which was a huge pain. That’s why I wanted to set one up in Carlisle.”

Ada reached out to other young people via social media three weeks ago, and quickly found others ready to take to the streets in protest, all aged between 10 and 15.

Ada’s mum Amy was extremely proud of their efforts.

“Essentially they’ve put this event together themselves,” she said. “I feel very proud of them.

“I think it’s great that they’re advocating for their friends and their community of young people who take climate change very seriously.

“Their understanding of the issue is phenomenal, far beyond a lot of adults - even politicians.”

Ada summed up the purpose of yesterday’s action as a demonstration of the strength of feeling on climate change among young people.

“The whole point of it is to make the government notice that we care,” she said.

“I think it’s quite noticeable that young people are standing up all over the world.

“It’s appalling that politicians have waited until the youth population are doing something before they take action.”

Carlisle Green Party chairwoman Dr Helen Davison came along to support the youngsters.

“It puts some of our politicians to shame to see these young people taking this fantastic action,” she said.

“It’s their future that’s at stake here, and it’s exactly what’s needed. The politicians haven’t been listening to us adults.

“I’m just really proud of them coming and doing this.

“The future is frightening, if we don’t take major action. I’m just really inspired by what these young people have done.”