They were ancient stone rings made by Neolithic West Country man for prehistoric rituals and lasted over 4,000 years. But one swift bulldozing later, the South-west's Priddy Circles have been ruined forever, much to the anger of local residents, heritage experts, and the police.

A man has been arrested and bailed in connection with the partial destruction of the set of four circular Bronze Age earthworks, near Wells, Somerset, believed to predate Stonehenge. The man's arrest follows a joint investigation between English Heritage and Avon and Somerset police, though the two organisations remain tight-lipped over the man's identity.

Wells MP Tessa Munt said: "What has happened is outrageous, this sort of vandalism is shocking. It is serious, we will never be able to get this back."

The arrest followed the founding of a Facebook group, Damaged Priddy Circle Information, which attracted hundreds of members over the summer. (© Independent News Service)

Irish Independent