Crowds have gathered at Stonehenge to welcome the sunrise for this year’s winter solstice.

The sun rose at 8.09am, marking the shortest day and the longest night of the year.

Sunset is expected at 4.02pm.

In the northern hemisphere, the Earth’s axis is tilted at its furthest point from the sun today.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

The solstice is one of the key occasions where English Heritage allows people near to the stones, which make up the prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire.

The winter solstice, which has been celebrated all over the world for thousands of years, is also known as Yule, a celebration of light and the symbolic rebirth of the sun.

Read more:
Day of mourning in Prague after mass shooting
Woman charged with murder of son, 4
Alex Batty speaks after returning home

Wiltshire Police warned nearby roads were “extremely busy” due to people gathering to mark the occasion and the English Heritage site’s car park had “reached full capacity”, the BBC said.

Motorists were asked to seek alternative routes to Stonehenge, with delays expected for the duration of the morning.

Related posts:

Wales to ease COVID rules from Saturday – but face masks still needed indoors and on public transport Euro 2020 final could have been abandoned without police intervention, says Met Recall on Tesco cough medicine which was incorrectly labelled Candy sweetens Chelsea bid as advisers decide on shortlist to buy club Boy, five, found dead in river suffered severe injuries ‘consistent with child abuse’, court hears Arsenal fan who suffered racist attack at Liverpool home match ‘had been targeted before’ Man charged with murdering nine-year-old girl in Lincolnshire It’s come home! Lionesses deliver England’s first major trophy since 1966 Antique goblet stolen from castle while on public display Met Police sergeant ‘accepted bribes including £7k holiday and services of escort’ Family left with ‘broken hearts’ after man beaten to death by grandson in ‘cowardly attack’ Grand National changes to be made in an attempt to make race safer