Thousands flock to Stonehenge for summer solstice, the longest day of the year
- People greeted 4.49am sunrise at the ancient stone circle in southern England
- Another 170,000 people around the world also watched the solstice online
Thousands of druids, pagans and New Age revellers greeted the summer solstice at Stonehenge on Tuesday, the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
About 6,000 people gathered at the ancient stone circle in southern England to watch the sunrise at 4.49am on a clear, crisp morning, local police said.
It was the first time revellers have been permitted to gather at the Neolithic monument to celebrate the solstice since 2019.
The sunrise was streamed online in 2020 and 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The crowds raised their arms in the air and cheered as the sun rose over the horizon.
Some performed pagan rituals and sang songs, and many hugged the ancient stones as part of the ceremony.
Plenty others awakened early and made the trip there just to soak up the atmosphere.