Thousands flock to Stonehenge to celebrate the summer solstice

Thousands greeted the sun with cheers as it rose over Stonehenge for the summer solstice, just days after the ancient monument was doused in orange paint.

Those who observed the spectacle at the Neolithic structure in Wiltshire encountered a cold morning accompanied by misty fields as the sun shone over the horizon at 4.52am on Friday.

The display follows the heritage site being targeted by Just Stop Oil protesters earlier this week.

Wiltshire Police said a man in his 70s and a woman in her 20s have been released on bail after being arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, damaging an ancient monument and discouraging a person from getting involved in a legal activity.

Many of the event attendees expressed their frustration and disapproval of the protest.

Sally Ann Spence, an archeology enthusiast who dressed up as a shaman unearthed from the Mesolithic period that predates Stonehenge, said the solstice was “incredibly important”.

“I understand their cause, I respect their cause. I just wish I hadn’t done that on Stonehenge,” she said.

“I think putting anything on the stones is slightly wrong, there are very rare lichens on the stones, it’s a world heritage site.”

She continued: “Being here for the solstice and representing a shaman – of course from a different time period – is a brilliant experience.

“It’s exciting. It’s very busy at the moment and I like it because I’m using it as a chance to talk to people about real archaeology.”

Laura Debane, who attended the Stonehenge solstice for the fifth time, said Just Stop Oil spraying the monument was “appalling”.

“If you’re going to make a protest go somewhere, it’s going to mean something, not in a historic place like this because there’s no oil here, it’s sacred ground.”

Ms Debane said she was glad the protest didn’t spoil the event and people were able to come out and enjoy it.

Stonehenge is a monument built on the alignment of midsummer sunrise and midwinter sunset.

At the summer solstice, the sun rises behind the Heel Stone – the ancient entrance to the Stone Circle – and the rays of light are channeled into the center of the monument.

The solstices are believed to have been celebrated at Stonehenge for thousands of years.

The summer solstice occurs when one of the Earth’s poles is at its maximum inclination to the sun, and the sun reaches its highest position in the sky, providing the longest period of light for a year.