This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/wiltshire/6225118.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Thousands attend solstice party | Thousands attend solstice party |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| More than 20,000 people attended this year's summer solstice celebration at Stonehenge. | More than 20,000 people attended this year's summer solstice celebration at Stonehenge. |
| A total of 24,094 people witnessed dawn break over the ancient stones, compared with 18,700 last year. The sun rose at 0458 BST in overcast conditions. | A total of 24,094 people witnessed dawn break over the ancient stones, compared with 18,700 last year. The sun rose at 0458 BST in overcast conditions. |
| Many apparently heeded advice to come by public transport and fewer cars than previous years were at the scene. | Many apparently heeded advice to come by public transport and fewer cars than previous years were at the scene. |
| Four arrests were made at the event, which Wiltshire police described as "very peaceful". | Four arrests were made at the event, which Wiltshire police described as "very peaceful". |
| 'Whooping and cheering' | 'Whooping and cheering' |
| Druids, Pagans, hedonists and hippies were among those who attended an all-night party at the stones. | Druids, Pagans, hedonists and hippies were among those who attended an all-night party at the stones. |
| See animated guide to the solstice at Stonehenge | |
| Mark Graham, a druid from Gloucestershire, said: "We didn't see the sun unfortunately, the cloud was scuttling across the sky just as the sun was getting ready to rise, but it was fantastic anyway. | Mark Graham, a druid from Gloucestershire, said: "We didn't see the sun unfortunately, the cloud was scuttling across the sky just as the sun was getting ready to rise, but it was fantastic anyway. |
| "The whole process of sitting through the night is part of the magic, this feeling of expectation which builds. | "The whole process of sitting through the night is part of the magic, this feeling of expectation which builds. |
| "It tends to go quiet before the sun rise, then as the sun comes up there's a lot of whooping and cheering and the beating of drums." | "It tends to go quiet before the sun rise, then as the sun comes up there's a lot of whooping and cheering and the beating of drums." |
| He said the 21 June - the longest day of the year - represented the high point of the Earth's growing energy and its renewal after winter. | He said the 21 June - the longest day of the year - represented the high point of the Earth's growing energy and its renewal after winter. |
| Return to top |