Schoolchildren will be getting to grips with the problems of climate change at two special events being held in the Yorkshire Dales next week.

About 80 youngsters from primary schools in Upper Wensleydale will be meeting at the Dales Countryside Museum in Hawes on Tuesday (9 October) for two, half-day sessions of activities.

The workshops will be run by the Liverpool-based Altru Drama Company, which works in schools in Liverpool on social and environmental topics, and each will begin with a specially-written play on climate change, its impacts and what people can do to lessen its impact.

This will be followed by a 60-minute workshop involving all the pupils that will focus on the effects of climate change on the National Park, showing the children that they all have a part to play and the impact of their actions.

The events have been jointly funded by North Yorkshire County Council and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority's Sustainable Development Fund, which is managed on its behalf by the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust.

Emma Casson, Carbon Reduction Officer for North Yorkshire Schools, said: "North Yorkshire County Council and the National Park Authority have commissioned this project to raise the pupils' awareness of climate change and to inspire them to take part and introduce energy-saving activities in their school.

"Drama is great way to engage children. We want the event to teach them to take responsibility and educate them early on the impact of their actions and habits - but in a fun way.

Moya Turrell, the National Park Authority's Sustainable Development Officer, said: "We hope the children will be inspired by the event and will want to save energy in their schools, setting up energy teams who will actively go round switching things off when not in use and telling the rest of the school about it."