Climate activists set off on hike to Davos

Climate activists set off on a three-day hike from Landquart in eastern Switzerland to the ski resort of Davos on Sunday to draw attention to global warming at the World Economic Forum this week.

Hundreds of protesters gathered in the centre of Landquart, ready to brave the cold on a 40km (25-mile) march across the mountains to snowy Davos.

Some were disguised as flowers or koala bears - a reference to the bushfires currently ravaging their habitat in Australia - and holding banners including: "Climate crisis: a world economic failure." Authorities had approved the first stretch from Landquart to Klosters, but rejected the activists' request to proceed to Davos by road for security reasons.

The organisers said they were determined to go on to Davos, but would take smaller hiking paths they didn't need permission to use.