Children from a Teddington primary school visited the Prime Minister to flag up the dangers of plastic pollution and urge him to introduce a charge for plastic bags.

Along with the children from Stanley Primary School in Teddington, MP Zac Goldsmith and a four metre wide albatross made from plastic bottles travelled to Number 10 on Wednesday, September 4, and the children read David Cameron a poem.

Ruby, nine, said: “We came here to pass on a message about plastic pollution. Wales, Ireland and Scotland have a bag charge so I don’t quite see why we can’t.

“It didn’t feel real meeting David Cameron. I got to do something that hardly anybody gets to do.”

Plastic bag usage in England from 2010 to 2012 has increased by 12 per cent, compared with an 80 per cent decrease in Wales where there is a charge for use.

England remains the only home nation not to have taken decisive action to reduce the waste, pollution and blight of single-use bags, with Northern Ireland introducing a scheme in April 2013 and Scotland confirming it will introduce a charge in October 2014.

Mr Cameron told the group he was discussing a similar scheme for England.

Zac Goldmsith MP said: “The PM has spoken in the past about the need to take action, and it was reassuring to hear not only that he was discussing the issue today in Number 10, but that he has noted the successful bag charge in Wales.

“I know many people are looking forward to the next step here in England.”