{"id":144231,"date":"2018-06-21T09:24:00","date_gmt":"2018-06-21T09:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/freeonlinetranslators.net\/news\/english\/thousands-mark-summer-solstice\/"},"modified":"2018-06-21T09:24:00","modified_gmt":"2018-06-21T09:24:00","slug":"thousands-mark-summer-solstice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/freeonlinetranslators.net\/news\/english\/thousands-mark-summer-solstice\/","title":{"rendered":"Thousands mark summer solstice"},"content":{"rendered":"
Media playback is unsupported on your device
Media captionA police drone was used to film the summer solstice crowd at Stonehenge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Thousands of people gathered at Stonehenge for the summer solstice, as the sun rose amid clear skies.<\/p>\n

About 9,500 people were at the Neolithic monument to greet the start of the longest day of the year, according to Wiltshire Police.<\/p>\n

The sun appeared behind the Heel Stone at 04:52 BST to cheering and applause from the crowd.<\/p>\n

The summer solstice is one of the rare occasions that English Heritage opens up the stones for public access. <\/p>\n

As with last year's event, Wiltshire Police confirmed it had stepped up security with armed police on patrol.<\/p>\n

Image copyright PA
Image caption Thousands turned up to watch the sunrise <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Image copyright Ben Birchall
Image caption Many of those who attended wore colourful outfits <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Although thousands attended the solstice, the force said 3,500 fewer people came to watch the sunrise compared with 2017. <\/p>\n

Supt Dave Minty, Wiltshire Police's overnight commander, said behaviour at the stones was "brilliant", with no arrests made.<\/p>\n

"The sunrise was amazing, and we don't see many of those," he added.<\/p>\n

"People seem to have adapted really well to the heightened level of security and they've been really patient with it." <\/p>\n

Image copyright PA <\/figure>\n
Image caption Police say attendance was down on last year <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

English Heritage's director of Stonehenge, Kate Davies, said the solstice was one of the "highlights of the year.<\/p>\n

"It's a great opportunity for friends and families to come together and mark the longest day of the year, as people have done for thousands of years," she said.<\/p>\n

"There was a lovely, friendly atmosphere throughout, the sun shone, and dawn was met with loud cheers."<\/p>\n

Image copyright Ben Birchall\/PA Wire <\/figure>\n
Image copyright PA
Image caption Attendees reported a festival atmosphere among those witnessing the sunrise <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Image copyright Reuters\/Toby Melville
Image caption Some people practised yoga exercises at the circle <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On the summer solstice, the sun rises behind the Heel Stone, the ancient entrance to the stone circle, and sunlight is channelled into the centre of the monument.<\/p>\n

It is believed that solstices have been celebrated at Stonehenge for thousands of years.<\/p>\n

The site holds special significance for members of the Druid and Pagan community, who perform rituals and celebrations at the summer and winter solstices. <\/p>\n

Image caption Mouth painter Tom Yendell captured the scene as the sun rose <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Image caption Tom had finished the painting after sunrise <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hundreds of people also enjoyed the solstice at the nearby Avebury stone circle, where Wiltshire Police Chief Constable Kier Pritchard from Wiltshire Police described it as a "lovely family event" with a "positive spirit".<\/p>\n

Image copyright Getty Images
Image caption Hundreds of people also enjoyed the solstice at the nearby Avebury stone circle <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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