Committed campaigners will be holding a 24-hour ‘vigil’ outside a hospital which could lose its A&E.

Members of #HandsOffHRI will be burning the midnight oil – and memorial candles – outside Huddersfield Royal Infirmary from 5pm on August 5 until 5pm the following day.

The demonstration aims to raise awareness of the threat to the hospital's emergency department which will close if the Right Care Right Time Right Place (RCRTRP) plan is approved.

The hardy volunteers will also be holding a vigil at Calderdale Royal Hospital, from 5pm on August 19 to 5pm the following day.

Emergency care will be centralised at the Halifax hospital which will be expanded to cope with the extra influx of patients.

#HandsOffHRI is mounting a legal challenge to derail the controversial RCRTRP proposal.

Supporters of the campaign and the public are invited to join the vigil which includes a gas barbecue – and plenty of coffee.

More than 1,000 people attended a #HandsOffHRI rally in St George's Square in January

They won’t have to go the full distance unlike Nicola Jowett, 32, of Newsome; Rachael Lilley, 46, of Denby Dale; Aaron Lilley, 17, of Denby Dale; Jools Crowther, 51, of Golcar; Kaz Taylor, 50, of Deighton; and Helen Kingston, 27, of Halifax.

Nicola said: “Nobody in their right mind will want to be there for 24 hours – but we will because we’re not in our right minds!

“We’re still looking into how feasible it is but we’re thinking of taking a camping stove so people can cook their own food and get hot water and toast marshmallows on sticks.

“These events tend to escalate into silliness but (after the public consultation ended) it’s the fun bit now.

“I think people are getting a bit tired so we want people to enjoy themselves while campaigning for a serious cause.”

The vigils take place as part of #HandsOffHRI’s summer events calendar.

The event, which will raise cash for the campaign’s legal costs, include a black-tie ball on August 13, a fun run on August 14 and a rally and festival on September 4.

For more information visit: http://handsoffhri.org .