CHANCELLOR Rishi Sunak kept his promise to speak to a group of schoolchildren after they wrote to him about their environmental concerns.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, the pupils of year 3 and 4 at Roseberry Academy, Great Ayton, wrote to the Richmond MP individually about a range of green issues they were worried about - including plastic waste and deforestation.

Mr Sunak also met Year 6 pupil Lois Vernon who wrote to him about the problem the school faced over getting its recyclable waste collected.

Mr Sunak contacted Hambleton District Council who made arrangements for the waste to be collected.

Helen Channing, the school’s headteacher, said the school had been delighted to welcome Mr Sunak.

She said: “We understand how busy he is with his Westminster workload so we were so pleased he was able to come to our school to talk to the children about an issue they have studied and about which they had lots of questions.

"It was a very exciting day for the pupils and staff.”

Mr Sunak said: “I was really impressed by the letters I received from the pupils and to read about their admirable commitment to a greener world.

"So it was pleasure to meet them all and talk to them about an issue that many young people feel really strongly about.

“I was pleased to help Lois solve the school’s recycling issue, with the assistance of Hambleton District Council.”

He wrote back saying he wanted to visit the school to address their concerns directly.

In a visit which took place before the current Covid-19 restrictions, Mr Sunak called at the school to meet all the staff and pupils and particularly the children who had written to him.

He outlined the various initiatives the Government were working on, including the reduction in the use of plastics in all forms of packaging and the push to plant 11 million more trees.

Headteacher Helen Channing, said: "It was a very exciting day for the pupils and staff.”

Mr Sunak said he had been 'really impressed' by the letters and that it was a pleasure to meet the pupils.