The UK Prime Minister has criticised school students who walked out of class to call for action on climate change.

In a statement, Theresa May's official spokesperson said the students' "disruption" was increasing teacher's workloads.

Thousands of pupils have been taking part in Climate Strike protests in 60 towns and cities across Britain and Northern Ireland today.

Demonstrations have taken place in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast calling on politicians to take real action to tackle the climate crisis facing the planet.

"Disruption"

Downing Street warned that the students were causing "disruption" when they should be in school.

"Everybody wants young people to be engaged in the issues that affect them most so that we can build a brighter future for all of us," said Theresa May's official spokesperson.

"But it is important to emphasise that disruption increases teacher's workloads and wastes lesson time that teachers have carefully prepared for.

"That time is crucial for young people precisely so that they can develop into the top scientists, engineers and advocates that we need to help tackle this problem."

Students join the Climate Strike protest on Parliament Square in Westminster, London, 15-02-2019. Image: Nick Ansell/PA Wire/PA Images

The Climate Strike movement has been gathering apace in recent weeks - with thousands of students joining large-scale protests in Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany and Australia.

The protests follow a number of dire reports on climate change and humanity's future.

In October, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that "rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society" are needed to limit the levels of global warming.

In November, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) warned that countries around the world will have to triple their efforts to cut greenhouse gases to have any chance of preventing a climate change catastrophe.

Last week meanwhile, scientists confirmed that the last five years have been the warmest on record.

The various school walk-out movements have been coordinating their efforts in recent weeks and a day of global school strikes is scheduled for March 15th.