Just Stop Oil protesters have thrown tomato soup over Vincent Van Gogh's Sunflower painting at the National Gallery in London.

The activist wearing 'Just Stop Oil' t-shirts were seen walking up to the painting before throwing two cans of tomato soup onto the painting and glueing themselves to the wall just before 11am on Friday. 

The soup covered the painting, which is covered by a slim sheet of glass and placed in a golden frame. 

After the pair covered the art estimated to cost £74.8 million, one of the activists shouted: "What is worth more? Is it art or is it life? Is it worth more than food? Worth more than justice?"

They added: "Are you more concerned about the protection of a painting, or the protection of our planet and people? The cost of living crisis is part of the cost of oil crisis.”

The two were quickly arrested as the Metropolitan Police said: “Officers were rapidly on scene at the National Gallery this morning after two Just Stop Oil protesters threw a substance over a painting and then glued themselves to a wall.

"Both have been arrested for criminal damage and aggravated trespass.

“Officers are now de-bonding them.”

The latest act marks Just Stop Oil's 14th day of civil unrest organised by the group this month, with plans for protest to continue. 

The protests come after 100 new oil and gas projects were approved by the North Sea Transition Authority in September.

Following the protests, the Met has said 376 activists have been arrested across the last 13 days. 

The National Gallery said: “At just after 11am this morning two people entered Room 43 of the National Gallery.

“The pair appeared to glue themselves to the wall adjacent to Van Gogh’s Sunflowers (1888). They also threw a red substance – what appears to be tomato soup – over the painting.

“The room was cleared of visitors and police were called. Officers are now on the scene.

“There is some minor damage to the frame but the painting is unharmed.”