Two Just Stop Oil protesters have been arrested after smashing the case around the Magna Carta at the British Library.

Reverend Sue Parfitt, 82, and Judy Bruce, 85, a retired biology teacher, targeted the glass enclosure around the historic document on Friday.

The pair then held up a sign reading “The Government is breaking the law” before gluing themselves to the display, footage posted online shows.

The British Library said security had “intervened to prevent further damage”.

The Metropolitan Police said two people had been taken into custody having been arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage.

The British Library said the damage to the case, which was caused at about 10:40 BST, was “minimal” and police said the document itself was not harmed.

Rev Parfitt, who held a chisel while Ms Bruce used a hammer, said: “The Magna Carta is rightly revered, being of great importance to our history, to our freedoms and to our laws.

“But there will be no freedom, no lawfulness, no rights, if we allow climate breakdown to become the catastrophe that is now threatened.”

She added: “We must get things in proportion. The abundance of life on earth, the climate stability that allows civilisation to continue is what must be revered and protected above all else, even above our most precious artefacts.”

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