Orange protest paint on Stonehenge removed as summer solstice celebrations to begin

Orange paint sprayed on to parts of Stonehenge by climate activists has been removed ahead of summer solstice celebrations on Thursday evening.

Two Just Stop Oil activists were arrested at the historic site in Wiltshire on Wednesday afternoon after spraying the monument with coloured cornflour.

They have since been bailed.

Wiltshire Police said on Thursday: “A man in his 70s and a woman in her 20s were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, damaging an ancient monument and deterring a person from engaging in a lawful activity.

“It follows reports that an orange substance had been sprayed on some of the stones by two suspects.”

The protest has been widely condemned, including from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour’s Keir Starmer.

But on Thursday English Heritage chief executive Dr Nick Merriman said there appeared to be “no visible damage” to the world heritage site.

Dr Merriman told BBC Radio 4: “It’s difficult to understand and we’re deeply saddened about this vandalism, but we’ve been really touched by the messages of sympathy and support we’ve had.

“Our experts have already managed to clean the orange powder from the stones because we were really worried about what would happen if they got in contact with water.”

It comes as thousands are set to head to the site on Thursday evening and Friday morning to celebrate the summer solstice - the longest day of the year.

Dr Merriman said the site remains “open to the public again and for the solstice tomorrow”.

Discussing the action by Just Stop Oil, Dr Merriman said: “It’s vandalism to one of the world’s most celebrated ancient monuments.

“We wish people would channel their protests away from cultural heritage sites, museums and galleries because we feel that doesn’t actually help their cause, and causes huge upset and disruption to the operation of these important sites.”

Just Stop Oil said two of its activists carried out the protest as part of a demand for the end of the extraction and burning of oil, gas and coal by 2030.

On Thursday, the group struck at Stansted Airport, spraying private jets. Just stop Oil said it took the action at Stansted because Taylor Swift’s private jet had landed there hours earlier.

The protesters painted two jets using fire extinguishers filled with orange paint around 5am, the group said.

Essex Police later said two women, aged 22 and 28, were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and interference with the use of national infrastructure.

Stonehenge was built to align with the sun on the solstices, with the occasion attracting thousands of visitors to the ancient stones.

On the summer solstice, the sun rises behind the Heel Stone in the north-east part of the horizon and its first rays shine into the heart of Stonehenge.