Something needs to be done to save water and it is “shameful” that people are ignoring the law that says that all houses should have wells, seven-year-old Cherise Spiteri argued in 'Parliament' this morning.

Speaking during the sixth edition of Eco School Parliament, held at the House of Representatives, Ms Spiteri also complained that some people still extracted water from the ground illegally.

“I hope that we won’t have to come here next year and repeat the same things.... We are very serious as this is our future,” she said in concerned determination.

Kay Darmanin Farrell, six, agreed adding: “We are doing our best to save water by collecting it at schools... It you (politicians) do not do anything we will suffer and it’s not fair.”

The girls, both students at St George Preca College primary school, were among students from nine schools who told MPs present that a lot had to be done to help the environment.

They suggested information campaigns on alternative energy, ways to save water and electricity and legislation that prohibited illegal water extraction.

The Eco School programme, organised by Nature Trust, includes 102 participating schools from Malta and Gozo with more than 41,000 students as active participants.