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20,000 gather at Stonehenge for Solstice

Pa
Monday 21 June 2010 09:18 BST
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Thousands of Summer Solstice revellers gathered at Stonehenge to watch dawn break on the longest day of the year.

The solstice annually attracts an eclectic mix - Druids, hippies, sun worshippers and those who are curious to experience the ancient festival.

Nearly 20,000 people attended the event, with 15 arrests overnight for minor public disorder, a Wiltshire Police spokesman said.

As the sun rose at 0452, a cheer went up from those gathered overnight at the stone circle on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire.

The crowds were treated to clear views of the sunrise - previous years have seen the spectacle obscured by mist and cloud.

Last year a record 36,500 revellers attended, causing traffic chaos and road closures.

It was announced last week that £10 million of funding for a proposed visitor centre at the prehistoric site has been axed, putting the plans on hold indefinitely.

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