A PUBLIC protest by primary school children to raise awareness of the environment has been praised by a Plaid Cymru Senedd Member.

Children at Ysgol Bro Cinmeirch at Llanrhaeadr near Ruthin organised a day of protests outside their school after taking their inspiration from Greta Thunberg’s comment that ‘you’re never too small to make a difference’.

One of the pupils, Iestyn Roberts, wrote to Llyr Gruffydd, Plaid Cymru’s MS for North Wales who lives locally, to invite him to attend the protest.

Iestyn, a year five pupil at the school, said the project had studied a wide range of issues surrounding the theme of climate change.

Mr Gruffydd said: “It’s very inspiring to see children taking the matter of climate change to heart and wanting to make a stance. I was very impressed with the imagination involved in designing posters and slogans and would like to thank Iestyn and the school’s head Gwennol Ellis for the invitation to attend.

“The stance of one young schoolgirl in Sweden has clearly made an impact across the world and helped inspire today’s lively and colourful protest. The school sits on a busy road and the amount of support from passing cars and lorries was very encouraging for the pupils.

“I hope they grow up believing that they can make a difference by their actions and will continue to raise their voices for a better planet. Seeing them being so passionate and positive was a real inspiration - and I hope others will realise that you’re never too small to make a difference.”

Gwennol Ellis, the school’s head teacher, said the day-long protest had been inspired by a climate change project the children had undertaken during their English lessons at the school.