In pictures: Thousands descend on ancient Stonehenge for winter solstice

Stonehenge, England: Wrapped in warm and brightly coloured clothes, thousands of revellers gathered at Britain's Stonehenge to watch the first sunrise after winter solstice on Saturday.

The winter solstice occurs when one of the Earth's poles has its maximum tilt away from the Sun.

People of all ages, including druids and pagans, sang, clapped and cheered as the sun rose over the prehistoric site made up of huge standing stones in the south-west of England.

Each year thousands of people travel to the Neolithic monument for the occasion.