Stonehenge has been turned orange as climate protesters released a packet of powder paint over the prehistoric UK structure before summer solstice celebrations.
Two protesters, part of the group Just Stop Oil, sprayed the ancient site near Salisbury, Wiltshire around noon Wednesday local time.
The monument in southern England is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Britain's most visited tourist spots.
Thousands are also expected to descend on the site on Thursday to celebrate the summer solstice.
Two people have subsequently arrested on suspicion of damaging the ancient monument, local police said in a statement.
The group said the pair were demanding that the incoming UK government commit to working with other governments to end the use of oil, gas and coal by 2030.
"Continuing to burn coal, oil and gas will result in the death of millions," a Just Stop Oil spokesperson said in a statement.
"We have to come together to defend humanity or we risk everything.
"That's why Just Stop Oil is demanding that our next government sign up to a legally binding treaty to phase out fossil fuels by 2030."
One of the protesters were participated, Niamh Lynch, was a 21-year-old student from Oxford.
They said summer solstice was about "celebrating the natural world" but the burning of oil,coal and gas was leading to "suffering on an unparalleled scale."
"It's time for us to think about what our civilization will leave behind – what is our legacy?" they said.
"Standing inert for generations works well for stones – not climate policy."
"This is extremely upsetting and our curators are investigating the extent of the damage," English Heritage, the charity that manages Stonehenge, said on social media platform X.
Stonehenge remains open, it added.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also called Just Stop Oil a "disgrace" in the social media platform.
The high-profile protest follows an animal rights activist protest last week, which saw a portrait of King Charles III pasted over with a carton image from Wallace and Gromit.
The Just Stop Oil group has also been responsible for similar orange paint protests during the 2023 World Snooker championships.
Reuters