Alfie Evans: Protesters attempt to storm children's hospital after European Court of Human Rights refuses to intervene in case

Protesters supporting the family of terminally ill toddler Alfie Evans tried to storm a children’s hospital today, after his parents were denied the chance to present their case before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

Around 200 people arrived at Liverpool’s Alder Hey hospital where the little boy currently is, to protest the judges’ decision to end the 23-months-old child's life support.

A stand-off with police ensued, as supporters blocked the road outside the hospital before linking arms in the street and chanting “Save Alfie Evans”.

As the demonstrators attempted to storm the front entrance of the hospital, a row of police officers scrambled to block the doors.

Dozens had run towards the main doors before police officers stationed inside and out strung across the entrance, blocking the way.

Tom Evans, 21, and Kate James, 20, had hope to overturn a ruling by UK judges that doctors at Liverpool's Alder Hey hospital could stop providing life-support treatment against his their wishes.

"The European Court of Human Rights has today rejected the application submitted by the family of Alfie Evans as inadmissible," a spokesman for the court said.

In February, Mr Justice Hayden ruled that doctors at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool could stop treating Alfie against the wishes of his parents following hearings in the Family Division of the High Court in London and Liverpool.

Specialists at Alder Hey said life support treatment should stop and Mr Justice Hayden said he accepted medical evidence which showed that further treatment was futile.

The pair had already lost one round of fights against this decision, in the High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and ECHR.

But they asked judges at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg, France, to intervene. Their request was refused.

Alfie's parents want to move their son from Alder Hey to a hospital in Rome. The couple said Italian doctors were willing to treat the little boy and an air ambulance was available.

But Mr Justice Hayden said flying Alfie to a foreign hospital would be wrong and pointless. Court of Appeal judges upheld his decisions.

Justices at Britain's Supreme Court and ECHR judges also refused to intervene.

The couple have since changed their argument and have claimed that Alfie is being wrongly "detained" at Alder Hey.

The pair have made a habeas corpus application.

A piece of common law which probably dates back to Anglo-Saxon times, a writ of habeas corpus - Latin for "you may have the body" - is a legal manoeuvre which requires a court to examine the legality of a detention.

Mr Justice Hayden has dismissed that claim and his decision was upheld by appeal judges have upheld. British Supreme Court justices said they would not intervene.

Judges have approved plans for withdrawing treatment and bringing Alfie's life to an end. Supreme Court justices said there should be no further delay in treatment being stopped.

But Alfie's parents made another application to the ECHR, which has now said it will not intervene.

Additional reporting by agencies.