'Fantastic' winter solstice marked at Stonehenge

A large crowd gathered at the prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain

Celebrations have been taking place at Stonehenge to mark the winter solstice.

Thousands of people watched the sun come up at the ancient Neolithic monument after the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere.

English Heritage allows people near to the stones to mark key occasions.

The event is thought to be more important in the pagan calendar than the summer solstice because it marks the "re-birth" of the sun for the new year.

It was the shortest day of the year on Wednesday and so people gathered to celebrate the days getting longer.

Celebrations continued despite the cloudy day

People celebrated the start of the days getting longer

Despite a forecast of cloud and rain, a large crowd of pagans and druids were among those to visit the site and were rewarded with a pink sky when the weather lifted.

Laura and Richard Parker travelled to Stonehenge from Nottingham and told BBC Radio Wiltshire the event was like new year for them.

Winter solstice celebrations during sunrise

Ms Parker said: "This is our new year, we don't celebrate on the first of January.

"It's been the shortest day of the year and we come to celebrate with like-minded people. It's a fantastic atmosphere and you can really let yourself go and be one with everyone."

Visitors are not usually allowed so close to the stones

Around 4,500 people were at the site for the event, with a further 100,000 watching the sunrise online around the world.

Scott Ashman from English Heritage said: "It was an enjoyable and peaceful celebration despite the damp and misty weather and it was great to see so many families enjoying themselves around the monument.

Usually a barrier prevents people from touching the stones but rules are relaxed on celebration dates

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