CLIMATE change campaigners arrived in High Wycombe today while spreading the green message on a 300-mile trek.

Members of Climate Rush paid a visit to the Environment Centre on the Rye this lunchtime dressed as Suffragettes to raise awareness of green issues.

They chose their outfits because they feel “radical” action needs to be taken to combat global warming.

Tamsin Omond, one of the campaigners, told the Bucks Free Press: “We are modelling ourselves on the Suffragettes. We need a big social movement that's as visible and noticeable as the Suffragettes.

“We are not eco-hippies or weirdos, we understand history and how sometimes you need people to be at the vanguard of change, especially when you want something to happen.

“These days nobody disagrees with what they did and we need something that radical.”

Climate Rush describe themselves as a “direct action group” and in the past members have chained themselves to railings outside the House of Commons – mirroring the actions of the Suffragettes 100 years earlier.

They started their journey in Sipson – a village would could be razed to the ground if controversial plans for a new runway at Heathrow Airport are given the go-ahead – on Thursday and will finish in the Devon town of Totnes, which became the first 'transition town' in Britain.

Transition towns commit to helping climate change and the 206 nationwide include High Wycombe and Marlow.

Climate Rush are travelling on to Haddenham using a horse and cart, where they will meet with Green Party leader Caroline Lucas and celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall to speak about environmental policy.

Deborah Grayson, one of the campaigners who comes from Haddenham, said: “We have a huge series of events telling people how they can learn about the solutions to what's going on with climate change.

“We have representatives from different campaigns from across Britain and Ireland, telling stories on how activists and campaigners have been working together on events.

“We are exploring places that demonstrate best practice which is why we're here at the Environment Centre. It's a great place for people to come and learn about the environment.”

Kim Sullivan, a volunteer at the Environment Centre, said: “It's quite inspirational when people decide to just do something.

“You need a general awareness of the fact that everything we do throughout our lives causes an impact on other people.”