4,500 attend Winter Solstice at Stonehenge
The poor weather didn't stop thousands from celebrating the end of the longest night
Around 4,500 people gathered at Stonehenge this morning to celebrate the Winter Solstice.
The sunrise at 08:09 marked the end of the longest night, and the days getting brighter from here on end.
The poor weather meant the sunrise didn't quite peak through the grey clouds.
However, it didn't stop thousands from attending and celebrating with pagan sounds and chants heard throughout the sunrise and in the hours that followed.
A further 100,000 people around the world watched the sunrise through the official live stream, according to English Heritage.
The charity, which manages the site, alerted that all car parks at Stonehenge were full by around 7:50 this morning, due to an unprecedented number of vehicles arriving for the Winter Solstice.
English Heritage's Scott Ashman said:
“It was fantastic to welcome approximately 4,500 people to Stonehenge this morning to celebrate winter solstice.
"We were delighted that a further 100,000 people watched the sunrise live online from right around the world. It was an enjoyable and peaceful celebration despite the damp and misty weather and it was great to see so many families enjoying themselves around the monument."
The Winter Solstice sunrise is available to watch again on the English Heritage YouTube channel.
Wiltshire Police confirmed the event "passed peacefully" through Stonehenge and "no arrests were made".
English Heritage's Scott Ashman added:
"We’d like to wish everyone who joined us this morning a safe trip home and a very Happy Christmas. We are looking forward to welcoming visitors over the festive season and in the new year.
"We are open on Christmas Eve, will be closed on Christmas Day and open again from Boxing Day.
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