AN elderly man has sabotaged a promotional stunt that turned Cherhill White Horse into a black and white panda.

A marketing company working for Fiat, gained permission from the Cherhill White Horse Restoration Group, to temporarily convert the landmark into a panda to promote the new Panda city car.

The black plastic sheeting was to cover the horse for one week before being carefully removed.

The National Trust drew up a contract with the marketing company and Cherhill White Horse Restoration Group received a sum of money as a donation.

But five days into the promotion an anonymous protestor climbed the White Horse and removed the black sheeting. He was seen driving away and his vehicle registration number was given to the police.

Sgt Nick Shorten of Calne Police Station said a man was being investigated for causing criminal damage.

Rob Pickford, chairman of the Cherhill White Horse Restoration Group said: "We agreed to the activity as this donation will help further restoration of the Cherhill White Horse. I guess the person that did it thought it was disrespectful. But it was to help the restoration and was only for one week.

"It received a mixed reaction. The man who did it did not know the full facts. Everything is fine now and the chalk was not damaged."

He said the only problem the sabotage caused was that some of the pegs holding down the sheets were still unaccounted for.

A spokesperson for Fiat said: "We sought approval from the local parish council and worked in conjunction with the National Trust and the Cherhill White Horse Restoration Group, whilst donating a substantial sum of money to both bodies, hoping it would support our recently voted Car of the Year whilst giving passing motorists a bit of a smile."