Summer is here (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Summer is here

The scene at Avebury this morning as the sun rose above the famous stone circle Refs: 16491-25THOUSANDS of people gathered at sites in Wiltshire to watch the sun rise on the summer solstice.

More than 21,000 people turned up at Stonehenge and several hundred gathered at Avebury, and they cheered as they watched the dawn in clear skies.

Many were in a party mood making the most of the warm weather.

At Avebury they gathered around the huge sarsen stones and the sound of guitars could be heard drifting across the village.

The atmosphere was friendly and by dawn Wiltshire Police had made only a handful of arrests.

At Stonehenge druids and others who went along for the experience took the chance to get near the monument, which is normally out of reach to the public.

Eight people were arrested at Stonehenge for a variety of offences, including arrests for being drunk and disorderly and criminal damage.

Others were arrested for assaulting a police officer and the possession of cannabis.

Wiltshire Police spokeswomen Jacqui Broadbridge said: "The general behaviour of the crowds who all attended this year's summer solstice was exemplary considering the huge numbers of people which have turned up this year.

"Our traffic management also worked very well, the roads were kept flowing."

Police officers closed the A344 between Airmans Cross and Stonehenge Fork to cope with the numbers of people.

Anthony Osborne