Stone circle solstice fire 'disappointing'

English Heritage said it had to reseed some of the grass on the site

A heritage group said it was "disappointed" after an ancient prehistoric stone circle was treated "so carelessly" by revellers.

English Heritage said one of its rangers had to reseed some grass at Castlerigg stone circle in the Lake District, after a fire was lit by people who visited the site to celebrate last week's solstice.

A nearby climbing centre also said it had to remove human faeces from its children's playground following the celebrations.

National Trust, which manages the site alongside English Heritage, said it was trying to find better solutions to "curb poor behaviour" alongside its partners.

Louise Ratcliffe, who lives near the stone circle, estimated there were more than 100 people at the site for the solstice this year.

She said some of the key issues with the celebrations were the lack of crowd controls and toilets on the site.

It meant fires were lit when they should not be, people littered, there were too many cars parked on small, rural roads and loud music was played all night, she said.

Louise Ratcliffe said more than 100 people were on the site for the solstice

Ms Ratcliffe said people should be allowed to celebrate the solstice, but the festivities should be better managed.

"The National Trust should be policing it," said Ms Ratcliffe.

The group, which manages the land the stone circle is on, said its rangers performed extra patrols at Castlerigg each year to remind people fires were not permitted and to tell them to respect the site.

'Thoughtless act'

English Heritage said: "It is extremely concerning to see that a fire has been lit within the stone circle, a thoughtless act that damages the scheduled monument and could have resulted in further serious consequences."

The director of nearby climbing centre Newlands Adventure Centre, Gayle Brooks, said staff had to pick up faeces from their children's playground before a school group arrived following the celebrations.

"I am not sure why out of all the surrounding fields anyone would choose a children’s play area to use as a toilet," she said.