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| Summer solstice: Thousands gather at Stonehenge for longest day | Summer solstice: Thousands gather at Stonehenge for longest day |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of people gathered at Stonehenge for the summer solstice, as the sun rose amid clear skies. | Thousands of people gathered at Stonehenge for the summer solstice, as the sun rose amid clear skies. |
| About 9,500 people were at the Neolithic monument to greet the start of the longest day of the year, according to Wiltshire Police. | About 9,500 people were at the Neolithic monument to greet the start of the longest day of the year, according to Wiltshire Police. |
| The sun appeared behind the Heel Stone at 04:52 BST to cheering and applause from the crowd. | The sun appeared behind the Heel Stone at 04:52 BST to cheering and applause from the crowd. |
| The summer solstice is one of the rare occasions that English Heritage opens up the stones for public access. | The summer solstice is one of the rare occasions that English Heritage opens up the stones for public access. |
| As with last year's event, Wiltshire Police confirmed it had stepped up security with armed police on patrol. | As with last year's event, Wiltshire Police confirmed it had stepped up security with armed police on patrol. |
| Although thousands attended the solstice, the force said 3,500 fewer people came to watch the sunrise compared with 2017. | Although thousands attended the solstice, the force said 3,500 fewer people came to watch the sunrise compared with 2017. |
| Supt Dave Minty, Wiltshire Police's overnight commander, said behaviour at the stones was "brilliant", with no arrests made. | Supt Dave Minty, Wiltshire Police's overnight commander, said behaviour at the stones was "brilliant", with no arrests made. |
| "The sunrise was amazing, and we don't see many of those," he added. | "The sunrise was amazing, and we don't see many of those," he added. |
| "People seem to have adapted really well to the heightened level of security and they've been really patient with it." | "People seem to have adapted really well to the heightened level of security and they've been really patient with it." |
| 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. | |
| It is believed that solstices have been celebrated at Stonehenge for thousands of years. | It is believed that solstices have been celebrated at Stonehenge for thousands of years. |
| The site holds special significance for members of the Druid and Pagan community, who perform rituals and celebrations at the summer and winter solstices. | The site holds special significance for members of the Druid and Pagan community, who perform rituals and celebrations at the summer and winter solstices. |