REVELLERS visited to Stonehenge to mark the summer solstice at the weekend.

More than 20,000 people braved chilly temperatures to catch a glimpse of the sun rising around the ancient stones on Monday morning.

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.

Druid leader King Arthur Pendragon presided over the festivities, standing in a ring of flaming torches and under a pair of giant horns, lit by burning branches.

Just before dawn revellers enjoyed an impromptu open-air dance next to the famous Heal Stone, the marker for sunrise on summer solstice.

The ancient mixed with the new as people dressed as ancient Britons listened to music ranging from jungle to jazz.

Peter Carson, English Heritage's head of Stonehenge hailed the event a success.

He said: "It's wonderful. We are delighted at the fact that people have been able to come here and enjoy the solstice in a safe and peaceful manner."

Although numbers were down on last year, when an estimated 32,000 enjoyed the sunrise, Mr Carson said the fall was not surprising as it was a Monday morning and had rained heavily overnight.

The atmosphere, unlike some previous years, was friendly and by dawn Wiltshire Police had made only a handful of arrests, all for public order offences.

It was the first solstice since the reclassification of cannabis and a police spokesman said officers were maintaining a policy in accordance with the law, but concentrating resources on those suspected of possession with intent to supply.