Hundreds of schoolchildren are marching through the centre of Canterbury to protest climate change.

The demonstrators congregated at the St George's Clocktower this morning and are making their way through Canterbury before they finish at the bandstand in Dane John Gardens.

Many primary and secondary schools across the district allowed their pupils to miss lessons to take part.

Schoolchildren demonstrate in Canterbury

However, Barton Court has told its pupils not to support the Youth Strike 4 Climate event and that any absence from class will be "unauthorised".

Henry Leutner and Kirsten Williams, who are both in Year 12 at the grammar, are at the demonstration because they had a free period, but say their classmates have not been allowed.

Explaining why she decided to attend, Kirsten says that climate change "is probably the biggest issue of our time."

"Every little thing we do will help a lot of people. This is one thing we can do about it. We can't vote, but this is something that we can do," she continued.

Scroll down to hear from some of the teenagers on the march

Also among those taking part is Louisa Cox, 16, who goes to Canterbury Academy and says her reason for coming is simple.

"I really just want the ice to stop melting," she says.

"If I was in school right now, I would feel so bad. I would hate myself, because I could be doing something useful to stop climate change."

She hopes the demonstration sends a message to politicians to take global warming more seriously.

"I hardly see anything in the news about this - most of what I read is about it is on Facebook. I know Brexit is big, but climate change is more important," she continued.

Her friend, Edward Evans, who goes to Archbishop's, says today is a chance for young people to make their voices heard.

"We're all about being heard today. We want the government to listen to us," he explains.

"We've got 12 years left. If we don't do anything, we're gone. There's no planet B. So it's our responsibility to do something about this.

"I feel like I'm learning so much here, so much more than I would in school."

The day of action is inspired by 16-year-old Swedish schoolgirl Greta Thunberg, who hit global headlines after she held a solo protest outside her country's parliament every Friday last summer.

Youth Strike 4 Climate protests have been confirmed in more than 50 towns and cities across the UK, and the "day of action" is expected to be the biggest demonstration by young people since the tuition fee hikes in 2010.