CLIMATE activists have embarked on days of action in the lead up to the General Election.

Members of the group Extinction Rebellion took to the streets of Weymouth and Dorchester to highlight what they claim is an 'immediate threat to the planet'.

The group is calling for all the major political parties to tackle the climate and ecological crisis by signing its Three Demands Bill, which calls on the government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025 instead of 2050.

The first day of action saw protesters in Weymouth hang a 'Climate Emergency' banner from the Town Bridge, meanwhile, flyers were distributed around Dorchester.

Andy Smith of Extinction Rebellion said: “We’re encouraging the public to challenge their local candidates and vote for the politicians and political parties’ whose manifestos are tackling the Climate and Ecological Crisis.

“Currently 1.2 million homes in the UK will be at risk from coastal flooding alone caused by sea level rise and an increase in extreme storms, this is especially relevant in Weymouth and on the south coast.

“Our homes are vulnerable. Insurance premiums will rise and houses will become worthless overnight.”

Extinction Rebellion is campaigning to remind residents that they believe that the climate emergency is the most important issue ahead of the General Election.

Dr Andy Ward, a GP from Portland, said: “Eight of the hottest days on record have happened in the last ten years, with heatwaves that have ended many thousands of lives. A hotter planet makes killer diseases harder to contain, and helps them spread to previously unaffected regions.

“It is not too late, but we need to act quickly if there is to be any hope of a world where our children get to live long and happy lives.”

Meanwhile, mothers came together to protest by breastfeeding in public.

A group gathered outside Dorset Council offices in Dorchester to feed their babies.

The aim was to send a strong message to the country’s leaders that their parties need to put the climate emergency at the heart of their campaigns.

All mothers were invited to attend and they wore sashes emblazoned with the words ‘their future’.

There was breastfeeding and bottle feeding whilst they made their voices heard – ‘fed is best’ organisers said.

Although the protest was one of many taking place across the country, organised by the group Extinction Rebellion, this event was organised by Parents for Future Dorset.

A spokesman for Parents for Future said: “It was to show solidarity against the inaction on the declared climate emergency. They joined thousands of mums all of the country doing the same thing on the second day of Extinction Rebellion's #ElectionRebellion #12DaysOfCrisis. They urge the people of Dorset to have the climate and ecological emergency at the forefront of their minds when they use their vote."