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Thousands mark summer solstice | Thousands mark summer solstice |
(30 minutes later) | |
Some 30,000 people celebrated the summer solstice as dawn broke at Stonehenge in Wiltshire. | Some 30,000 people celebrated the summer solstice as dawn broke at Stonehenge in Wiltshire. |
Druids, hippies and sun-worshippers were among those who gathered to watch the sun rise at the ancient stone circle at 0458 BST on the longest day. | Druids, hippies and sun-worshippers were among those who gathered to watch the sun rise at the ancient stone circle at 0458 BST on the longest day. |
Rainy conditions obscured the sunrise but the turnout was still the highest in five years. | Rainy conditions obscured the sunrise but the turnout was still the highest in five years. |
Police said the event was peaceful, with 17 arrests overnight for public order offences. | |
As the dawn broke a cheer went up from revellers who gathered at the Heel stone - a pillar at the edge of the prehistoric monument. | As the dawn broke a cheer went up from revellers who gathered at the Heel stone - a pillar at the edge of the prehistoric monument. |
It's all about the feeling you get when the sun bursts through the stone Stonehenge reveller 'Cathbad' | It's all about the feeling you get when the sun bursts through the stone Stonehenge reveller 'Cathbad' |
Unemployed John Tarbuck, 33, from Bude, Cornwall, set up a small tent party next to his car. | Unemployed John Tarbuck, 33, from Bude, Cornwall, set up a small tent party next to his car. |
"The best thing about Summer Solstice at the 'henge is you get to meet loads of new people," he said. | "The best thing about Summer Solstice at the 'henge is you get to meet loads of new people," he said. |
"All the people here at my tent party, I've never met before." | "All the people here at my tent party, I've never met before." |
Another man, dressed in a black hooded top, who gave his name as Cathbad, said: "It's a beautiful experience. It's about celebrating nature, life and what makes the world go round. | Another man, dressed in a black hooded top, who gave his name as Cathbad, said: "It's a beautiful experience. It's about celebrating nature, life and what makes the world go round. |
See animated guide to the solstice at Stonehenge | See animated guide to the solstice at Stonehenge |
"It's a little bit too heavily organised, with too much intervention from the establishment, but I'll keep coming back. | "It's a little bit too heavily organised, with too much intervention from the establishment, but I'll keep coming back. |
"It's all about the feeling you get when the sun bursts through the stone." | "It's all about the feeling you get when the sun bursts through the stone." |
A spokeswoman for English Heritage, which runs the 5,000-year-old site, said the last time a turnout of 30,000 was achieved was in 2003. | A spokeswoman for English Heritage, which runs the 5,000-year-old site, said the last time a turnout of 30,000 was achieved was in 2003. |
"It's been very wet and soggy," she said. "Probably a few disappointed people, many streaming out before sunrise because it was so wet and cold. | "It's been very wet and soggy," she said. "Probably a few disappointed people, many streaming out before sunrise because it was so wet and cold. |
"I don't think it will discourage people from coming again. Quite a few people come every year and are quite hardy." | "I don't think it will discourage people from coming again. Quite a few people come every year and are quite hardy." |