‘Troubles melt away’: record crowd celebrates winter solstice at Stonehenge

‘Unprecedented’ number watch sunrise on Salisbury Plain and savour the prospect of days growing longer

It was a misty, drizzly kind of morning but it did not matter a bit for a record-breaking crowd that made the pilgrimage to Stonehenge for the winter solstice.

As the sun rose on Salisbury Plain, they sang, chanted, danced, banged drums, hugged or simply mulled over the cheerful idea that from now on the days will grow longer.