Thousands of tourists, pagans, druids and people yearning for the promise of spring have marked the dawn of the shortest day of the year at the ancient Stonehenge monument.

Thousands of people have gathered at Stonehenge to see the winter solstice sunrise. From 21 December, the shortest day of the year, the nights will slowly start to draw back again and the days will gradually become longer.

As dawn approached, cheers and applause could be heard, and attendees applauded as the sun rose over the Neolithic monument.