5,000 attend Winter Solstice at Stonehenge

Thousands welcomed in the shortest day Credit: PA

Thousands of people, including pagans and druids dressed in traditional clothing, have gathered at Stonehenge to celebrate the shortest day of the year.

Spectators gazed up at the sky to witness the beginning of the winter solstice, the point at which the North Pole is tilted 23.5 degrees away from the sun.

Spectators gazed up at the sky to witness the beginning of the winter solstice Credit: PA

Some people offered prayers to gods, while others sounded trumpets, drums and other musical instruments.

Visitors were seen rejoicing and embracing each other and kissing the stones, as the sun rose over Stonehenge at 8.13am.

Some people sounded trumpets, drums and other musical instruments Credit: PA

Although the entire day is typically considered to be the solstice, the precise moment it occurs is when the sun is directly over the line marking the latitude stretching across the southern hemisphere: the Tropic of Capricorn.

This year it is believed to have happened at 10.44am GMT, according to science website earthsky.org.

The site was cleared by 10am Credit: PA

However, according to English Heritage the site was cleared by 10am to open for the general public, so people were not able to worship at the specific solstice time.

Daylight on Wednesday will last just seven hours, 49 minutes and 41 seconds - almost nine hours less than the year's longest day in the summer.

Visitors were seen rejoicing as the sun rose over Stonehenge at 8.13am. Credit: PA
Visitors were seen rejoicing and embracing each other as the sun rose Credit: PA
It's an important day for many Credit: PA