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Thousands welcome summer solstice at Stonehenge

About 10,000 people have gathered to welcome the summer solstice at Stonehenge.

Druids and pagans joined a colourful mix of visitors to mark the longest day of the year at the ancient site in Wiltshire.

On the solstice, the sun rises behind the entrance to the stone circle, and rays of light are channelled into the centre of the monument.

Many people travel from around the world to celebrate at the stones.

21 June 2023

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Salisbury Cathedral as the backdrop to illuminations

Stunning Illumination showcase returns to Cathedral

view from the spire of Salisbury Cathedral

Changing the bulb on UK's tallest cathedral spire

The sun visible at sunset through one of the structures at stonehenge

Stonehenge celebration takes place after powder paint protest

Summer solstice at Stonehenge

'It's a spiritual experience, completely moving'

Four baby birds

Four peregrine falcon chicks hatch at cathedral

Salisbury Cathedral from the air

Drone footage shows cathedral without scaffolding

Mrs Ellicott bending down near the wedding dress which is displayed in a small shop

Great-grandma fulfils dream to knit wedding dress

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Driver jailed for leading police on 'high risk' car chase

Salisbury Cathedral

Cathedral lit up by art from through the ages

Giant statue

Famous giant statue moved in £5m refurbishment

Picture of round barrow burial ground in Harnham

'Significant' Bronze Age barrows discovered

Carhenge

Glastonbury's 'scrap-car Stonehenge'

Lego sculpture of Stonehenge

Stonehenge replica being made of 400,000 Lego bricks

Three peregrine chicks covered in white fluff with yellow feet

Salisbury peregrine chicks named in public vote

Magna Carta Wikipedia page rendered in embroidery

Magna Carta Wikipedia page turned into embroidery

Investigators in white suits in Salisbury

Novichok poisonings remembered five years on

Chief fire officer Ben Ansell

Fire service has 'taken steps to improve culture'

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Inventor's public phone to play hopeful message

Train passenger

Passengers describe moment of Salisbury train crash

Stonehenge

Areas linked to Stonehenge 'damaged' by tourists

Funeral of Ivor Gardner

Wiltshire D-Day veteran dies aged 104

He fought his way into Germany before guarding prisoners of war, only returning home in 1946.

Two parrots looking at eachother

Couple love showing people their 20 rescued parrots

David and Gill Vickery give a home to a host of birds after taking in two cockatiels 40 years ago.

A man and a woman dressed in Regency clothing. He is wearing a purple tunic with gold buttons, and she has a pink and white dress on with a blue frilly bonnet.

Jane Austen fans step back in time for festival

Regency costumes and afternoon tea for fans from around the world at annual gathering.

Lyneham Banks in Wiltshire. The road is wonky with fallen trees after a landslip.

Repair work begins on Wiltshire's 'wonkiest road'

The construction team working on the road say it is a "challenging" task.

Two skydivers prepare to jump from a plane above countryside on a sunny day

Skydivers take on Armed Forces Championships

More than 100 skydivers are competing for medals in the skies over Wiltshire.

Dan Thomas sitting on a tattoo couch holding the leg of his shorts up to show the tattoo, which is the Euros cup with the words: "England Euro 2024 Winners"

England fan admits Euro winners tattoo is 'bonkers'

But Dan Thomas says he is confident the Three Lions will win at Euro 2028.

Brian Matthews

New Lib Dem MP says party will be 'tail wagging Labour dog'

Brian Matthew is the new MP for the Devizes and Melksham constituency.

Man holding hand up to face while holding mobile phone and drink can

'What is wrong with you?' - Tory team object to filming

Members of the former Chippenham MP's team attempted to stop cameras filming her departure.

Robert Buckland

Former MP 'fed up with performance art politics'

Former MP Robert Buckland said he wanted the Conservatives to get back to 'doing stuff well'

A crowd watches a brass band play on the lawn of a hospice in Wiltshire.

Royal Marine musicians play for bandmate 'one last time'

The Royal Marine Band plays for one of its band members Sophie, who is terminally ill.

Doris sitting on a bench

'I'm doing it for the residents' - woman, 100, walking laps of care home

Doris Maslen, a resident at Marden Court in Calne, Wiltshire, walks up to two laps a day.

Domenico Mazzotta is celebrating 50 years of serving ice creams to the people of Wiltshire.

Celebrating 50 years of serving ice cream

Domenico Mazzotta is celebrating five decades of serving summer treats to the people of Wiltshire.

A view of a police dashcam with a small motorbike in the distance on a rural road

Biker avoids jail after 120mph rush-hour chase

Dashcam footage shows a motorcyclist travelling down the road at speeds in excess of 120mph.

Tiger looking towards the camera with two cubs between her front legs

Rare tiger cubs born at safari park

New Amur tiger cubs at Longleat Safari Park give a vital boost to the European breeding programme.

Diana Dors statue

Britain's blonde bombshell remembered 40 years on

The actress, who was seen as the British Marilyn Monroe, died in 1984 aged 52.

Splash park image

New splash park will be 'better than ever'

The new splash park will cost £475,000 but will not involve an upgrade to its ancient changing rooms.

Fox cub looking at camera

Fox cubs prepared for life back in the wild

The RSPCA says it wants to help residents protect more foxes this year.

Tributes for Lennix Sutcliffe

'He was just a lovely eight-year-old boy'

Tributes pour in for Lennix Sutcliffe, who died after being hit by a car while playing on a scooter.

Fire at The Bridge in Easton Town, Sherston

Flames engulf roof of Indian restaurant

The blaze took more than four hours for fire crews across the West to extinguish.

An old door

Historic door returns to high street

A historic door in Marlborough is restored to its former glory after nearly 100 years.