ENGLISH Heritage has said they are "extremely disappointed" to have discovered a fire being lit within a prehistoric stone circle.

Reports suggest a fire had been lit at Castlerigg Stone Circle, near Keswick, during an unofficial gathering for the summer solstice at the neolithic site. 

A spokesperson at English Heritage said:  “Castlerigg Stone Circle is a special prehistoric place in the middle of the beautiful surroundings of Cumbria.  

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"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.  

"As a charity, we are proud to welcome millions of visitors to enjoy the sites in our care each year, the majority of these are free to enter and it’s really disappointing to see Castlerigg Stone Circle being treated so carelessly," they said.