Three Just Stop Oil activists who sprayed Stonehenge with orange powder have been cleared of criminal damage following a trial.

Rajan Naidu, 74, Oxford University student Niamh Lynch, 23, and Luke Watson, 36, were involved in the protest a day before last year’s Summer Solstice.

Mr Naidu and Ms Lynch had been accused of using two colour blasters filled with cornflour, talc and an orange dye to spray the World Heritage Site.

Mr Watson had bought the equipment used in the attack and had driven his co-accused to Stonehenge that morning.

The activists accepted taking part in the protest and cited in their defence “reasonable excuse” and their rights under Articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights to freedom of speech and freedom to protest.

They denied charges of damaging an ancient protected monument and causing a public nuisance during the trial at Salisbury Crown Court.

All three were acquitted following a 10-day trial at Salisbury Crown Court.

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