A third person has been arrested after orange paint powder was sprayed at Stonehenge

A third person has been arrested in connection with a Just Stop Oil protest where orange paint powder was sprayed at Stonehenge.

Wiltshire Police said the man, aged in his 30s, from Essex, was detained by Met Police officers on Thursday.

He was arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting criminal damage, aiding and abetting trespassing and damaging an ancient monument, and aiding and abetting aggravated trespass.

A spokeswoman for the force confirmed the man had now been released on bail.

She added: “Two other people, a man in his 70s and a woman in her 20s, previously arrested in connection with the incident, remain on bail as we continue our enquiries.

“We continue to work with English Heritage and partners to progress our enquiries.”

Following the outcry, English Heritage said experts quickly removed the orange dust from the stones because there was a risk it could damage the rare lichens that grow on the stones.

The charity confirmed that there does not appear to be any visible damage from the paint, but the act of removing it could erode the fragile stone and damage the lichen.