LONDON -- There were some clouds in the sky, but that didn't disappoint the 23,000 people who turned out in Stonehenge as the sun rose on Sunday morning, turning the sky orange.
New-agers and self-styled Druids descended on the ancient stone circle, catching a brief glimpse of the sun as they marked the summer solstice — the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere.
Wiltshire Police say about 23,000 sun-watchers gathered on the Salisbury Plain. Police say the event was peaceful. "31 drugs seizures, 20 street warning and four arrests at #SummerSolstice good to see most people enjoying the celebrations safely," police said on Twitter.
Stonehenge is an icon of Britain, and one of its most popular attractions. It was built in three phases between 3,000 B.C. and 1,600 B.C. and its purpose remains under study. The monument is aligned with the sunrise of the summer solstice and the sunset of the winter solstice.
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Additional reporting by The Associated Press