Priest and retired teacher in their 80s charged over Magna Carta attack after Just Stop Oil protestors hammered the glass protecting the ancient tome

Two protesting pensioners, in their 80s, have been charged with criminal damage after the glass encasing the Magna Carta at the British Library was attacked.

Just Stop Oil activists, Reverent Dr Sue Parfitt, 82, from Bristol, and retired biology teacher, Judith Bruce, 85, were arrested on Friday morning, The Metropolitan police reports.

The pair have since been charged with criminal damage after the incident which occurred at the British Library in London.

The protesters reportedly attempted to crack the hardened glass casing surrounding the ancient document armed with a lump hammer and chisel.

The two elderly women then held up a sign which read: 'The Government is breaking the law'.

According to Sky News, they were also reportedly heard questioning: 'Is the government above the law?'

Following this the pensioners then glued themselves to the display, demanding an emergency plan to stop oil by 2023, according to Just Stop Oil.

A statement from the British Library said its security team confirmed two people had attempted to attack 'the toughened glass case'.

They added: 'The library's security team intervened to prevent further damage to the case, which was minimal.

'The police were notified and the Magna Carta itself remains undamaged.'

The gallery that houses the display containing the historical document which was issued in June 1215, is closed until further notice, it added.

The ancient document was the first of its kind to detail basic rights, including that no one - even the King and his government - were above the law.

It put into writing a person's right to a fair trial as well as limits on taxation without representation.

The Magna Carta served as inspiration for several constitutions in present-day diplomacy such as the US Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The British Library has two of the four surviving copies of the Magna Carta in its possession.

The two other copies reside in Lincoln Cathedral and Salisbury Cathedral.

The pair were released on bail and are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 20.