FOR nearly five thousand years, two stone circles have dominated the chalk downland landscape of Wiltshire - Stonehenge and Avebury.

Each year, thousands of visitors from across the globe come to study, worship or marvel at these prehistoric monuments.

But now there is a third stone circle, a modern wonder designed to invoke universal love across the world, and sure to steal some of the awe Stonehenge and Avebury have held for so long.

This latest stone circle, constructed outside the village of Child Okeford, near Blandford, is the work of a small group of foresighted individuals from the Salisbury and Glastonbury areas.

They started work on the circle in September last year and finally, after weeks of hard work and determination, finished building it in early December last year.

It was dedicated to spiritualists across the globe on December 21 - the shortest day of the year.

The new stone circle has 108 stones, eight of which are very large, arranged in two circles and built near the site of an Iron Age hill fort.

Four rows of smaller stones lead from the outer to the inner circles and a large hearth dominates the centre of the structure, referred to as a Medicine Wheel.

Architect Hanna Katz, whose Compton Chamberlayne-based company, Eco Logical Designs, was involved in the project, said: "The inner circle is the feminine and the outer circle is the masculine, representing the unity of males and females.

"The whole circle is to do with balancing and harmonising energy - invoking universal love and peace around the world."

There are already 80 Medicine Wheels in other parts of the world, principally Hawaii, South Africa and the United States of America, and Hanna explained that the latest one in Dorset would work alongside the others.

"Each of the stones was placed very carefully - the orientation of the whole structure is so important," explained Hanna.

"It's designed to bring people together - we want everyone to come and enjoy the energy, and contribute to it."

The newly constructed stone circle at Child Okeford is situated just outside the village, near Hambledon Hill, and is accessible to members of the public.