Boris Johnson smashes union flag branded JCB 'Brexit' digger through piles of boxes in bizarre campaign event

Prime minister takes controls of JCB as election campaign reaches final straight

Boris Johnson has driven a Brexit digger through a polystyrene wall at a bizarre campaign event as the election campaign enters its final days.

The prime minister got behind the wheel of a JCB digger with "Get Brexit Done" written on its bucket and smashed through a wall emblazoned with the word "Gridlock".

He posed for a photo before giving a thumbs up and shouting "Get Brexit done" to waiting photographers.

The stunt took place at the JCB Cab Manufacturing Centre in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, where the prime minister also took part in a question and answer session with staff.

JCB chairman Lord Bamford is a Conservative peer and a staunch Brexiteer, donating thousands of pounds to Mr Johnson's leadership bid.

Labour immediately produced its own mock-up of the stunt, showing Mr Johnson driving a digger through a wall with the word "NHS" written on it.

In a speech to workers at JCB, Mr Johnson said: "On Thursday I think it's time for the whole country symbolically to get into the cab of a JCB custard colossus and remove the current blockage we have in our Parliament."

Asked if he believed he was "home and dry" on Thursday, the prime minister said: "Absolutely not.

"This is a very close fought election and we need every vote. The only mathematical alternative to a working majority Conservative government is the real real risk of another hung parliament.

"That’s another five years of confusion, chaos, dither, delay and division. We cannot go down that route.

"I’m sorry to say this but remember what happened in 2017. Polls can be wrong and we are fighting for every vote.”

In chaotic scenes, a Tory campaign bus carrying journalists was stopped outside of the factory by Extinction Rebellion protestors, who glued themselves to the front of the bus.

Police closed part of the road to traffic as they waited to remove three activists dressed as bees from the vehicle.

After a delay of more than 100 minutes, the three men were removed and handcuffed by police.