Hundreds of school pupils marched through the county town campaigning for the right to education for children across the world.

Students from nearly all 17 school within Dorchester Area Schools Partnership (DASP) took to the streets as part of the annual Send my Friend to School event.

They marched from St Osmund’s Middle School through town to Lloyds bank, where they signed up members of the public to support the campaign.

World leaders have promised every child in the world a quality education, however, issues remain over funding to pay for this education. It means 263 million children across the world are missing out on school and many of those in school are not learning.

After signing up members of the public in Dorchester - who were delighted to see colourful banners and enthusiasm of the children - pupils then met MP Sir Oliver Letwin in the town hall, handing over messages and petition signatures.

Each school prepared a two-minute presentation which was then followed by debate and questions to Sir Oliver.

Speaking afterwards, Sir Oliver said: “I was delighted, as always, to see the massed ranks of pupils from Dorchester schools coming to express their commitment to providing schooling for children in countries much less fortunate than our own.

“We should be proud that Britain, with its large overseas aid budget, is making a huge contribution to the provision of schools for those children in less developed countries who currently receive no education‎.

“We now need the other rich countries to match our commitment so that we can finally resolve this huge problem and ensure that children everywhere on earth have the chance to use their talents and to prosper.”

Send My Friend to School is the UK coalition of the Global Campaign for Education (GCE).

The GCE is a global organisation working to ensure quality education for all children, with members in over 80 countries.

In the UK the campaign seeks to increase community awareness of the state of education internationally and generate the political will necessary to ensure the UK plays an active and effective part in efforts to secure education for all.