Druids celebrating the winter solstice at Stonehenge were treated to snowflakes, a rainbow and a clear sunrise.

Pagans, astronomers, white witches, local residents and even a Buddhist gathered to watch the sun rise over the stones on the shortest day of the year.

The druids made the most of the access to the stones. Fierce battles at the summer solstice in past years led to exclusion zones being set up around the site and huge police bills.

Just one police officer witnessed last week's peaceful gathering of around 200 worshippers.

Denny Price, arch druidess of Stonehenge said: "It is important for people to go to the stones because there have been celebrations here for thousands of years.

"We have all come to celebrate in peace and it's encouraging to see more young people."

The sun worshippers held hands in the inner circle of the 4,500-year-old stones.

The 20-minute ceremony finished with the vow: "We swear by peace and love to stand heart to heart and hand in hand.

"Mark o' spirits and hear us now confirm this our most sacred vow."

Stonehenge attracts up to a million visitors every year but the stones' origins still baffle experts.

One theory is that it is a prehistoric cathedral, another that the circle was built as a giant observatory.