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'Record-breaking' solstice crowd at Stonehenge

Reuters A woman in a red dress stands higher than a crowd of people within the Stonehenge stone circle. The sun is rising in the background.Reuters
Thousands attended the solstice sunrise at Stonehenge

About 25,000 people have celebrated the summer solstice at Stonehenge - a record breaking crowd.

The event is one of the few occasions people can walk next to the stones at the ancient site near Salisbury in Wiltshire.

It comes on what could be the UK's hottest day of the year so far with temperatures predicted to peak at 34C.

Stonehenge's operations manager Julia Richardson told the BBC it had been a peaceful event with an "amazing atmosphere".

Watch: Crowd cheers as the sun rises at Stonehenge on summer solstice

She added it was a "perfect combination" of the warm weather and solstice falling on a weekend that brought the crowds out.

Jennifer Wexler, Stonehenge's curator of history, said the sunrise had been "amazing".

"It's a really wonderful way to come and mark this seasonal moment in time," she added.

Reuters A person wearing a flower crown with blue hair and orange sunglasses. They're playing a small flute with Stonehenge and people behind themReuters
The solstice attracted people from as far away as Hong Kong and America

The solstice attracted people from as far away as Hong Kong and America, along with thousands from the UK.

Abigail Ng, 28, has lived in the UK for more than a decade and said she felt she had to visit Stonehenge before moving back home to Hong Kong.

Two women smililng into the the camera. Both have flower headwear. One is purple, the other is yellow. One of the women is wearing a light brown coat, the other is wearing a purple top.
Abigail (left) wanted to visit Stonehenge before moving to Hong Kong

She said she was drawn to Stonehenge after hearing about the atmosphere and pagan festivals and traditions.

"I had to come here before I left," she said. "So I grabbed my best friend who lives up in Edinburgh and dragged her here this morning."

A group of four people in swimwear smiling at the camera
A few brave swimmers braved the pool in Cheltenham Lido at sunrise

And, one family from Atlanta, Georgia, celebrated an 18th birthday at Stonehenge.

They said when she was born they would take her to Stonehenge for the landmark birthday.

"The weather has been absolutely amazing, the people have been amazing," said mum Kerri Hobson-Pape said.

She said it is "really special" to be there for the solstice.

Two silhouetted people on the brow of a hill, walking during sunrise.
A couple of walkers were captured taking sunrise strolls in Leckhampton

The A303, which runs past the ancient stone circle, was closed during the night after motorists parked their cars on the side of the road.

Wiltshire Police said: "We would like to remind motorists to drive safely and cautiously due to the increased risk of pedestrians walking in the road."

The sun rises in the distance as seen from Glastonbury Tor, the top of a hill. Around 20 people look out over fields in the distance. Some cloud is in the sky.
A crowd gathered on Glastonbury Tor to watch the sunrise

Elsewhere, a crowd gathered on Glastonbury Tor to watch the sunrise ahead of the music festival next week.

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