STUDENTS in the Borders and Peeblesshire will be given the chance to meet Sir David Attenborough should they win a competition to find the next up and coming youth climate activists.

The Young Climate Champion competition was set up by entrepreneur and philanthropist Sir Tom Hunter, owner of the Hunter Foundation, and aims to help students in Scotland with a passion for the environment to express their ideas on tackling the climate crisis.

The charity dinner, organised in partnership with Zero Waste Scotland, will welcome national treasure and presenter, Sir David Attenborough as the guest speaker.

Sir Tom said: “Climate change is happening now and we need to move quickly to address it. We are looking for answers and opportunities to what is clearly a global issue of concern, so who better to ask than the people who will be affected the most – our next generation of young Scots.”

The competition, which is open to secondary aged students only, will ask the Climate Champions to submit their ideas for how their school would tackle the climate crisis - what would they change, how would they do it and why?

Students are encouraged to be as creative with their submissions as they want.

Sir Tom added: "The global climate emergency is one of the biggest risks to our future society. If you ruled Scotland, what big changes would you make to address the global climate crisis here in Scotland?

"Or how do you think young people in Scotland could lead the way in addressing climate concerns?"

Classes can put forward essays, videos, poems, songs or pieces of digital art to show their ideas for combatting the environmental emergency.

Written entries should be two pages long and video or audio work must be no more than two minutes. Students should also include a list of ten people to join them at their table and the reasons for making this decision.

All entries can be promoted on social media by using the hashtag #SirDavidDinner and tagging @THunterF.

The high-profile dinner will be held at the National Museum of Scotland on Tuesday, February 18.

The closing date for entries to the Young Climate Champion is Friday, February 7.

Students need permission from their school to enter as they will be responsible for transporting winners to and from the event.

All entries should be sent to schools@thehunterfoundation.co.uk, providing the name of the school, an email address and phone number which can accessed during the February half term. A panel of judges will then select the winner.

For more information, visit the Hunter Foundation's website at https://www.thehunterfoundation.co.uk/home/