Sun at Stonehenge Solstice - and a giant ancestor (From This is Hampshire)

Sun at Stonehenge Solstice - and a giant ancestor

10:27am Monday 21st June 2010 in

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AN estimated 20,000 revellers were at Stonehenge to mark the Summer Solstice, each hoping to see the sun as it rose above the ancient stone circles at dawn.

But it was a new phenomenon that caught the eye – the giant ancestor.

The 20ft tall metal statue weighing in at six tons was at the western end of Stonehenge for the rare sunny solstice sunrise but will eventually grace Solstice Park, which is next to the A303 between Amesbury and Andover.

Police described the event as one of the safest in years although 31 people were arrested for minor drug offences.

Sunrise, marking the longest day of the year north of the equator, occurred over the circles at 0452 BST.

The heel stone, just outside the main circle at Stonehenge, aligns with the rising sun.

Victoria Campbell, 29, said: "It means a lot to us... being British and following our pagan roots."

The Londoner, who works in the finance industry, also said that "getting away from the city" was a major draw.

Commuters faced considerable delays this morning as the thousands of vehicles left the site and mixed with the usually busy Monday morning traffic.

Police kept the A345 road, which runs north of the stones, closed during the rush hour and westbound traffic was further encumbranced by part of the A303 carriageway being coned off.

Delays averaged around 15 minutes eastbound, with the most tight jams at the Longbarrow roundabout.