Long Man of Wilmington targeted by anti-fracking protesters

The words were placed above the giant chalk carving on Friday

Anti-fracking protesters have placed a slogan above a famous giant chalk figure on the South Downs.

The words "Frack Off" appeared above the 235ft (72m) Long Man of Wilmington, which is cut into the hillside near Eastbourne, East Sussex, on Friday morning.

The letters, which are thought to have been made from white tarpaulin, were removed a short while later.

Sussex Police said it had spoken to protesters and was "monitoring".

In March, shale energy company Celtique Energie announced it would not appeal against a decision to refuse planning permission to explore for oil and gas at two sites in the South Downs National Park.

The giant chalk carving at Wilmington is believed to have been created in Anglo-Saxon times and is thought by some to be an ancient fertility symbol.