Climate protesters rushed to Royal Cornwall Hospital yesterday after learning of the Prime Minister's visit to Cornwall.

Eight 'red rebels' and a small number of members of the Extinction Rebellion group stood outside the hospital awaiting Boris Johnson, hoping to highlight the "global emergency".

Pictures show the red rebels dramatically dressed head-to-toe in blood red robes, with deathly-white paint on their faces and red lips as Boris Johnson left Truro.

Other members stood close to the red rebels holding a banner which read "the sea is rising and so are we" - along with leaflets that said "non violent" demonstrating that it was a peaceful protest.

Mr Johnson visited the hospital’s paediatric unit on Monday, August 19, to announce a number of measures designed to improve vaccination rates, including for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR).

The Red Rebels demonstrating as Boris Johnson's car passes

During his visit, he made a number of other promises, including no rise in the pension age and the £100 million promised for Cornwall, but he did not discuss any plans he had around the environment or climate change.

The group are known nationally for its 'die-in' protests and blocking the way for government ministers, but "out of respect for ambulances and a specific request from the police" the group did not block the road.l

Oliver Baines, a spokesperson for the group said that Extinction Rebellion managed to gather a "small support team" to attend the Prime Minister's visit.

Oliver said: "Our message to the Government is clear and straightforward: tell the truth about the climate and ecological crises; declare a state of climate emergency; and act now, act as anyone would act in an emergency, with leadership, courage and commitment.

The Red Rebels from Extinction Rebellion

"So far this Government has failed on every count. Extinction Rebellion will continue to add pressure, and support protest, demonstration and rebellion, until the Government acts. We do this for  our children, grandchildren, and all life on this beautiful planet."

Another member, Lizzy Stroud, added: "We were at Treliske to bring to the attention of the Prime Minister the importance of recognising the climate emergency we are facing.

"Action is needed now, and this needs to be prioritised at a governmental level.

"Cornwall Council has declared a climate emergency but they need support from above. We need the truth to be recognised; we are facing an emergency that could lead to mass extinction if we do not act now. We are asking the government to act swiftly to bring forward legislation that can help in the fight against global heating.

'The sea is rising and so are we'

"In the context of hospitals and health care, the consequences of inaction on the climate and ecological crisis are not just mass extinction of other species, but the spread of famine, disaster and disease, anxiety and depression among our own human populations.

"Totally undermining whatever progress has been made with the NHS and all its associated medical advancements."

Extinction Rebellion at the Prime Minister's visit to the Royal Cornwall Hospital

In January the council declared a climate emergency and last month its leading Cabinet approved the first version of a Climate Change Action Plan.

This details some of the things that the council is already doing to tackle climate change and reduce carbon emissions as well as some new schemes and ideas for how the council can help address the climate emergency.

Among these are plans for a Forest for Cornwall which would aim to plant 8,000 hectares of trees across Cornwall.

There are also plans to carry out whole home retrofitting which would aim to make homes more energy efficient.

You can read more about what the council is doing to fight climate change, here.