Graffiti scrawled on Ring of Brodgar standing stone in Orkney Published duration 11 April 2019

image copyright Getty Images image caption The Ring of Brodgar is a Neolithic ceremonial site

Police are investigating vandalism at Orkney's Ring of Brodgar.

Built 5,000 years ago, the Neolithic ceremonial site near Stenness is the third largest stone circle in the British Isles.

Graffiti was scratched into one of the ring's 27 standing stones sometime between Friday afternoon and Sunday morning.

Police Scotland described the stones as "priceless artefacts" and the vandalism as a "mindless act".

image copyright Police Scotland image caption Graffiti has been scrawled into one of the standing stones

Insp David Hall said: "I would urge anyone who has visited the area over the last weekend to think back and if they believe they may have seen something suspicious, even if it didn't seem of much note at the time, to let us know.

"We would also would urge the public to continue to be vigilant at this site and report anything which could be of interest to police immediately."

The Ring of Brodgar is the third largest stone circle after the outer ring of Avebury Stone Circle and the Greater Ring at Stanton Drew in England.