Stonehenge '7 Wonders' finalist

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An airship has flown over Stonehenge to celebrate the 5,000-year-old landmark's inclusion on a shortlist to decide the seven wonders of the modern world.

Fifty robed druids performed a ceremony inside the circle to mark the event.

Stonehenge, the only British entry, is up against iconic buildings and structures ranging from the Statue of Liberty to the Great Wall of China.

The global poll is being organised by the Swiss-based group New7Wonders. The winners will be announced in July 2007.

'Good chance'

The New7Wonders winner will be chosen by the public.

Bernard Webber, New7Wonders founder, said: "I think it (Stonehenge) has great potential because of its simplicity. It's like a mirror for humanity."

I think it should win simply because it's prehistoric Dave Batchelor, of Stonehenge

"Stonehenge's beauty is also its environment which, if the roads were not here, would be even better. I think it has a good chance."

Stonehenge, on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, is one of 21 finalists.

Some 20m votes have already been received, including many from India for the Taj Mahal, China for the Great Wall and Peru for Machu Picchu.

But European voters have been slower off the mark, said Tia Viering, a spokeswoman for New7Wonders.

The news of Stonehenge's entry has been greeted with enthusiasm.

"It should win simply because it's prehistoric. It's 5,000 years old and was built before written language, before metal tools and before the invention of the wheel," said Dave Batchelor, of Stonehenge.