The monument, one of Britain’s best-loved tourist sights, is seen by many as holding spiritual significance and is visited by thousands of tourists during the summer solstice.

Writing on X, English Heritage, the organization that manages Stonehenge, wrote: “This is extremely upsetting and our curators are investigating the extent of the damage."

In a video released by the environmental group Just Stop Oil, two protestors can be seen running towards Stonehenge and spraying it while members of the public attempt to intervene.

The 5,000-year-old landmark has been ringed by protective fencing since 1977 due to surging visitor numbers.

Today’s vandalism has been roundly condemned. "Just Stop Oil are a disgrace," said British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on X. Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the opposition Labour party, branded the stunt “outrageous” before describing Just Stop Oil as “pathetic”.

Two people have been arrested and named as 21-year-old Oxford University student Niamh Lynch and 73-year-old Rajan Nadu.

Archaeologist Mike Pitts told BBC that the incident was “concerning”. He added: “The monument has been fenced off for decades and the megaliths' surfaces are protected. They are sensitive and they are completely covered in prehistoric markings which remain to be fully studied and any surface damage to the stones is hugely concerning.”

Climate protestors have repeatedly hit the headlines with their increasingly bold and disruptive tactics. In 2022, two activists were jailed after throwing soup at the Sunflowers painting by Vincent van Gogh.

In Poland, a movement called Ostatnie Pokolenie (Last Generation) has followed in the footsteps of Just Stop Oil and mimicked their antics. In March, protestors from Ostatnie Pokolenie were filmed hurling orange paint over Warsaw’s iconic mermaid statue.