The winter solstice at Stonehenge – in pictures

The druid Merlin walks towards the stones to start the celebrations of the winter solstice at Stonehenge, in Amesbury Photograph: Kieran Doherty/Reuters

People touch a stone at the centre of the Stonehenge constellation, hoping to see the sun rise as they take part in a winter solstice ceremony Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

A young couple embrace in front of fellow druids, pagans and musical revellers within the stone circle. Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

A suitably clad and rather ecstatic woman hugs one of the ancient stones within the circle of Stonehenge – visitors are rarely allowed to enter the circle Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Druids, pagans and revellers gather in the centre of the famous Stonehenge circle and raise thier arms to the sky Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

A woman wearing a unicorn mask watches as druids, pagans and revellers gather, hoping to see the sun rise. Despite the rain and wind, a large crowd gathered at the famous historic stone circle to celebrate the sunrise closest to the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year – an event claimed to be more important in the pagan calendar than the summer solstice, because it marks the 'rebirth' of the sun for the new year Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

A visitor places his head into one of the ancient stones Photograph: Kieran Doherty/Reuters

A woman sporting facepaint rests on a stone to meditate during the busy solstice celebrations Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Ian Temple, the arch druid of the Dorset grove, is pictured dressed as the green man during the winter solstice ceremony at Stonehenge Photograph: Neil Munns/PA