Just Stop Oil: The spray paint on Stonehenge was removed before the summer solstice

Orange powder paint sprayed on part of Stonehenge by activists has been removed.

Two Just Stop Oil protesters were arrested after they sprayed cornmeal at the historic site near Salisbury, Wiltshire, at around 12:00 BST on Wednesday.

English Heritage chief executive Dr Nick Merriman said there appeared to be “no visible damage” to the 5,000-year-old landmark after experts cleared the site.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Dr Merriman also confirmed the site would be open for the summer solstice celebrations as normal from 7pm BST on Thursday.

Wiltshire Police said the two protesters had been released on bail “to allow us more time to work with specialists and progress our enquiries”.

They had been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, damaging an ancient monument and discouraging a person from engaging in a lawful activity.

English Heritage said the orange paint was removed using a “specialised hand blower”.

He told the BBC that if rain had come into contact with the powder, the damage could have been significant.

The stones are covered with over fifty different lichens, some of them rare. This meant that it was not possible to brush or wash off the paint.

A spokesman for English Heritage said: “We cannot understand why someone who claims to care about the environment would try to damage such a monument and upset people around the world, including those for whom Stonehenge has meaning spiritual”.