A seven-year-old eco-warrior has gathered almost 70,000 signatures on her petition - to force Crayola to make their colouring pens recyclable.

Jessie Stephenson's passion for art has meant she goes through a lot of felt tip pens, but she was upset to learn they could not be recycled.

The seven-year-old started a petition asking Crayola UK to give its British customers a recycling scheme, and it has quickly racked up nearly 70,000 signatures.

Mum Charlotte Stephenson said: "We never expected it go quite so crazy.

"Jessie is super keen on the climate change debate."

Both Jessie and brother Sonny, ten, are pupils at John Stainer School in Brockley, south east London, where Jessie has a place on the 'Eco-Council'.

The family all live a green lifestyle by recycling and limiting their meat intake.

Crayola has a recycling scheme in America, but it has yet to have one in the UK.

The petition reads: "I really love using Crayola pens but I don’t want to use them now that I know the impact on the environment.

“I care about the environment because we live here and if we wreck it, we won’t get a second chance."

Her head, Sue Harte, said: “I am absolutely delighted that Jessie has been so motivated to do this petition to convince Crayola start recycling in the UK.

“How wonderful that such a young child has the awareness and the drive to do something to make the world better and the support for her has been fantastic.

“We are very proud as a school to be totally supporting Jessie’s petition.”

Jessie received a letter from Crayola UK when the petition for a recycling scheme began to pick up support, but she was not happy with the company’s response.

Jessie said: “Crayola said they would just talk about it and that’s not enough for us.

“We’re not going to give up.”

Jessie also asked people with leftover felt tips to save them up to deposit through the recycling scheme which she hopes will be implemented soon.

Incumbent MP Vicky Foxcroft has also given her support to Jessie's campaign.

She said: "Climate change is one of the main issues young people contact me about.

"It's their future they are worried about and it's great to see them lobbying for change."

Crayola UK has been approached for a comment.