Summer solstice sunrise captured across West Midlands

People gathered to watch the sunrise at Mitchell's Fold stone circle in Shropshire

People across the West Midlands have captured the summer solstice sunrise.

The event, this year on 21 June, marks the longest day of the year with almost 17 hours of daylight.

A few people gathered at Mitchell's Fold Stone Circle on Stapeley Hill, in Shropshire, to watch the sunrise at around 04:50 BST.

The Bronze Age monument, erected up to 4,000 years ago, regularly attracts solstice visitors.

Celebrations have also taken place at other sites across the region.

On the summer solstice, the northern hemisphere is fully tilted towards the Sun, which is at its highest position in the sky.

Sunrise pictured behind leaves in Hartshill, Warwickshire

The view across Sutton Coldfield just before the sun rose on Wednesday

The view from Caer Caradoc, near Church Stretton

The word solstice comes from the Latin solstitium, meaning Sun stand still.

Wednesday also marks the first day of the astronomical summer, which is what we usually refer to as the start of summer, according to the Met Office.

Summer officially ends on 23 September, with the autumn equinox.

The sun coming up in Leek, in Staffordshire

Cloudy skies after the sunrise in Belmont, near Hereford

The summer solstice, here pictured in Baschurch, takes place around the 21 June every year

An orange glow in Halesowen, Dudley, on Wednesday morning

On the summer solstice, pictured here in Gnosall, the sun is at its highest position in the sky

The solstice, photographed here in Sandwell, marks the longest day of the year, with more than 16 hours of daylight