Here comes the sun... (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Here comes the sun...

UP to 21,000 people gathered at Stonehenge to take part in the Summer Solstice celebrations this week.

At 4.58am on Tuesday the sun rising over the monument's heel stone was greeted with cheers and drum beats from the revellers, which included Druids, tourists and local people. One woman travelled from Iceland.

The event was made all the more spectacular by the clear skies and morning mist, which added to the magical atmosphere at the stone circle. English Heritage chief executive, Dr Simon Thurley, said: "There has been no trouble. People seem to have enjoyed themselves."

Wiltshire police had to make only six arrests, mainly for drink related offences.

Meanwhile, the Channel Five documentary being filmed at a secret location nearby, believed to be in the Sherrington area, did not go quite as smoothly as the celebration itself. Experiments intending to show how the stones were moved and erected did not go to plan.

Stonehengineer Gordon Pipes and his team of volunteers were only able to move a giant stone a few feet in 25 minutes, after setting themselves a target of 25 feet.

l English Heritage staff from the National Monuments Record Centre have gone on strike over a below inflation pay offer. The strike could delay planning applications and consent for work on listed buildings.