Three people were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage in relation to the incident, Metropolitan Police said.

The force shared a photo from the scene on Twitter, showing orange paint splashed across an exhibit.

Just Stop Oil confirmed three women from the group had thrown paint over the RBC Dolphin Garden, designed by Paul Hervey-Brookes, after stepping over a rope barrier at 9am today.

The group said on Twitter that one of the protesters asked: "What use is a garden if you can't eat?"

She went on: "I live in a small town that has flooded five times in the last eight years. Dirty sewage-filled flood water, pouring into homes, classrooms, and gardens."

A spokesman for the group added: "Cries of dismay could be heard from the public, though this later changed to applause and cries of 'Well done'."

JSO named the three women as Stephanie Golder, 35, Naomi Goddard, 58, a retired landscape engineer, and Rosa Hicks, 28.

Ms Goddard, from Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, said following her arrest: "I know that by carrying out this action, I risk losing my job, my livelihood and my reputation, but it is what I have to do right now.

"We all need to do everything in our power to stop this madness continuing.

"There is a better, cleaner, safer future, but only if we fight for it."

Meanwhile, the Met said tweeted: "Officers responded to an incident at [the] Chelsea Flower Show this morning.

"Three people were arrested at the scene on suspicion of criminal damage in connection with a #JSO (Just Stop Oil) protest. Enquiries are ongoing."

The latest incident comes after activists from Just Stop Oil, which is campaigning to end all new fossil fuel projects in the UK, disrupted the World Snooker Championship at the Circle last month by hurling orange paint across a snooker table.

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Just Stop Oil demonstrator shoved to ground in protest clash

The incident saw two protesters invade the arena shortly after play began early in the evening session, with a man interrupting the match between Robert Milkins and Joe Perry by jumping on the table where he released a packet of orange dye.