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In Pictures: People across UK and Ireland mark winter solstice

In Pictures: People across UK and Ireland mark winter solstice
PA Wire/PA Images - James Manning

Ceremonies have been held across the UK and Ireland to mark the winter solstice.

December 21 is the shortest day and longest night of the year, with London experiencing seven hours and 49 minutes of daylight.

Glastonbury Tor in Somerset is one of the most popular gathering points to mark the event.

People take part in the winter solstice celebrations during sunrise at Glastonbury Tor in SomersetPeople take part in the winter solstice celebrations during sunrise at Glastonbury Tor (James Manning/PA)PA Wire/PA Images - James Manning

People take part in the winter solstice celebrations during sunrise at Glastonbury Tor in Somerset(James Manning/PA)PA Wire/PA Images - James Manning

In Wiltshire, the prehistoric Stonehenge monument was busy this year.

People take part in the winter solstice celebrations during sunrise at the Stonehenge prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain in WiltshirePeople wait for the sunrise (Andrew Matthews/PA)PA Wire/PA Images - Andrew Matthews

People take part in the winter solstice celebrations during sunrise at the Stonehenge prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire(Andrew Matthews/PA)PA Wire/PA Images - Andrew Matthews

Arthur Pendragon \u2018knights\u2019 a member of the public as they take part in the winter solstice celebrations during sunrise at StonehengeArthur Pendragon ‘knights’ a member of the public as they take part in the Stonehenge gathering (Andrew Matthews/PA)PA Wire/PA Images - Andrew Matthews

People take part in the winter solstice celebrations during sunrise at the Stonehenge prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire(Andrew Matthews/PA)PA Wire/PA Images - Andrew Matthews

A person takes a photograph of the stones as they take part in the winter solstice celebrations during sunrise at StonehengeThe ancient and the modern met at Stonehenge (Andrew Matthews/PA)PA Wire/PA Images - Andrew Matthews

Morris dancers perform in front of the stones as people take part in the winter solstice celebrations during sunrise at StonehengeMorris dancers perform in front of the stones formation (Andrew Matthews/PA)PA Wire/PA Images - Andrew Matthews

Across the Irish Sea, a monument in Newgrange, Co Meath, which is thought to be more than 5,000 years old drew a number of people keen to mark the solstice.

People celebrate the sun rising as they gather for the winter solstice at Newgrange, Co Meath(Brian Lawless/PA)PA Wire/PA Images - Brian Lawless

People gather for sunrise at Newgrange, Co. Meath(Brian Lawless/PA)PA Wire/PA Images - Brian Lawless

Tom King, also known as \u2018An Gobha\u2019, the Blacksmith of the Boyne Valley, at NewgrangeTom King, also known as ‘An Gobha’, the Blacksmith of the Boyne Valley, at Newgrange (Brian Lawless/PA)PA Wire/PA Images - Brian Lawless

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