Three women from Chippenham have found themselves at the centre of a political storm after an innocent trip to London turned into a national incident.

The women, who all work at Amelia's Classics bridal shop on The Causeway, took a limousine to the British Museum on Sunday to visit the Terracotta Army display.

After arriving in the main exhibition room they were stunned to see a lone protestor scale the security rope and attach masks to the 2,200-year old figurines and a sign saying CO2 emission polluter'.

Amelia Hanratty, 47, who runs the shop, said: "It was just so surreal - the man just stepped over the barrier and put these masks on, turned to us and said Don't worry, I won't hurt them.' "I couldn't believe what was happening - there was no alarm or security, it was unbelievable.

"It was only because of the screams and shouts from the crowds that alerted the security officers who took the man away.

"Luckily, we managed to take a sneaky picture of the figures while the masks were still on and the media interest has been phenomenal.

"We have been contacted by the Daily Mail, the Telegraph, the Sun, Channel 4 news and many other newspapers.

"We have also been contacted by Kodo News in Japan who have bought the picture for their news show.

"We think we have raised about £1,000 so far, which is brilliant because it has covered the cost of our Christmas staff trip.

"I am hiking around the Inca Trail in Peru in December to raise money for a greyhound charity - so some of the money will go towards that."

The protestor, Martin Wyness, 49, from Herefordshire, was immediately removed from the exhibit after his five-minute protest.

As a result he has been banned from visiting the museum for life.

He was arrested in May this year for an aggravated trespass after he chained himself to a digger to protest against the building of a £12.5 million road.

He said: "I did it because I have got two children and I am very concerned about the global inaction over climate change, particularly what is happening in China.

"It is a shame that I have been banned for life because I love the British Museum, but the future of my children is more important than my pleasure of visiting there."