Lewisham’s young mayor was among the thousands of children and young people who took part in a UK-wide climate strike – and he plans to do it all again next month.

Adam Abdullah, 16, was among the crowds of students protesting against government inaction on climate change outside Parliament last week.

Organisers Youth Strike 4 Climate said protests took place in more than 60 towns and cities, with an estimated 15,000 taking part.

Swedish schoolgirl Greta Thunberg started the first school strike for climate outside the Swedish parliament building last year, which has now turned into a global movement.

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Adam said he had heard about the strike on social media and wanted to take action, particularly in light of the tragedy of local girl Ella Kissi-Debra, whose 2013 death has been linked to air pollution.

He encouraged other pupils to attend the strike – with permission from their parents – via a video on Twitter, saying: “What is the point of us working so hard when tomorrow there might not even be a planet to walk on?”

Speaking after the protest, Adam said: “I had the realisation that pollution caused by greed is killing us.

“It is a travesty.”

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Climate change issues globally were also a big motivator, he said.

And the message of climate change action also struck a chord with many local students, he added.

“I saw people from my school there as well as from other schools.

“When I was putting messages out on social media we got 300, 400 views. It  spread like wildfire,” he said.

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He said the protest, which started in Parliament Square, was “amazing”.

“Everyone was just the right mix of angry and happy,” he said.

“The action that was taken was something that had to happen. It is direct action that wins.”

The next climate strike is planned for March 15 and is expected to draw larger crowds.

Adam was elected in October. He will be in office for one year and will have a budget of £25,000 to spend on priorities chosen by young people.