Police came under fire yesterday for failing to stop a group of eco-warriors as they ripped up the lawn outside one of Cambridge’s most famous colleges.

That officers let the protest continue undisrupted without making arrests was described as ‘an affront not only to the law-abiding public but to democracy itself’.

The damaged lawn, outside Trinity College, surrounds an apple tree said to be descended from the one that inspired Sir Isaac Newton’s discovery of gravity.

Tory MP Anthony Browne said he was ‘horrified’ by police inaction, adding: ‘The role of the police is to uphold the law.’

Police officers let the Extinction Rebellion protest (pictured) outside Trinity College in Cambridge continue undisrupted, causing a Tory MP to say he was 'horrified'

No arrests were made on the day of the protest, although police later accepted that ‘a crime has been recorded for criminal damage’.

Yesterday, as protests by activists Extinction Rebellion continued across the city, two women – an artist and her former flatmate – were led away by police.

Caitlin Fay, 19, was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. She was also arrested during the group’s protests in London in October, when she wrote on social media: ‘Many people say our actions are inconvenient.

Boris Johnson has called us “uncooperative crusties”. We are doing this for everyone, the planet, the children, the animals.’ Freelance animator Gabriella Ditton, 26, was arrested for allegedly spraying graffiti. Police could not say whether there had been other arrests.

No arrests were made on the day of the protest, although police later accepted that ‘a crime has been recorded for criminal damage’

Extinction Rebellion, whose street protests last year shut down large swathes of London, are targeting the university over its investments in fossil fuels and plans to turn a Suffolk farm into a business park. They threaten to continue their disruption all week.

Mr Browne, MP for South Cambridgeshire, was among those to criticise Cambridgeshire Constabulary for failing to curb the chaos and halt the criminal damage.

‘I am horrified at Extinction Rebellion causing criminal damage to the Trinity College lawn and illegally blockading the roads,’ he said. ‘I also find it concerning that the police have taken the stance they have – I understand the difficult position they are in, but the role of the police is to uphold the law and they should do so.’

In a letter to the force’s acting Police and Crime Commissioner Ray Bisby, he added: ‘Extinction Rebellion are flagrantly breaking the law, yet so far Cambridgeshire Constabulary has taken no action to intervene.

Protesters are seen during the ripping up of the lawn in Cambridge. Extinction Rebellion are targeting the university over its investments in fossil fuels

‘I am aware of the need to balance the rights of peaceful protest with the rights of individuals to go about their lawful business, but in this case it is the overwhelming response of the public that the police have got the balance wrong.

‘This type of protest is an affront not only to the law-abiding public, but to democracy itself.’ By causing criminal damage to the university turf, the activists were undermining their own cause, he said.

Superintendent James Sutherland defended the force’s response to the damage – and roadblocks set up by protesters which resulted in ambulances being diverted.

‘The law requires us to protect people’s right to peaceful assembly,’ he said, citing the 1988 Human Rights Act. ‘Simply a road being blocked does not make a protest itself unlawful.’

Trinity College said it ‘regrets the criminal damage done to its property beside Great Gate’, adding: ‘The college respects the right to freedom of speech and non-violent protest but draws the line at criminal damage. Academics at Trinity are actively engaged in research to understand and develop solutions to climate change.’