A DRUID is taking legal action against a decision to close the by-ways around Stonehenge.

King Arthur Pendragon, from Salisbury, is suing Wiltshire Council over their decision to bring an Experimental Traffic Order (ETO) into force within the site of Stonehenge.

The ETO closed all by-ways around Stonehenge to motorised traffic from July, 12 for up to 18 months, although they can still be used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders.

King Arthur says the Order "gives an unfair monopoly on parking in the environs of the World Heritage Site to English Heritage, places unnecessary restrictions on pilgrims from exercising their rights under Articles 9, 10, 11 and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights, and causes a threat to life and property, as pilgrims and tourists, unable to pull over into the relative safety of the By-ways will inevitably 'pull over' on the verges of the A303."

He added: "It also fails to follow common practice of consultation, whereby the closure has been enforced prior to the six-month consultation period allocated."

A Wiltshire Council spokesperson said: “It is so important we take care of the areas around one of the most important sites, not only in Wiltshire, but the world.

People can still access these byways however by removing the traffic we are protecting a part of this iconic landscape from damage caused by vehicles.

“We are currently reviewing this claim.”

King Arthur wants to see the ETO lifted in time for the September Equniox on September 23: "They are saying we have to park at the Visitor Centre, which is 2.6km away.

"People come from all over Europe for this gathering, and is totally unsuitable."