GALLERY: Avebury Summer Solstice in pictures throughout the years

Revellers have been urged to stay away from Avebury, after discussions between the police and the local community, and the annual summer Solstice ceremony at Stonehenge was cancelled yesterday. (June 16.)

What is the solstice?

The summer solstice weekend runs from June 19 to 21 - and marks the longest day of the year, when the position of the rising or setting sun stands still in its movement along the horizon.

During the summer solstice, the earth’s axis is tilted at its closest point from the sun. This means that in the northern hemisphere, the sun is at its highest point in the sky. It’s also the longest day of the year - and the shortest night.

2014 Playing with fire at Avebury Stones Summer Solstice evening celebrations Photo Diane Vose.

Stonehenge has the larger celebrations, but hundreds still typically flock to the Avebury equivalent year on year.

READ MORE:Numbers down at Avebury and Stonehenge as rain takes toll on solstice

Constructed over several hundred years, Avebury is made up of a large henge - a bank and a ditch - with a large outer stone circle and two separate smaller stone circles situated inside the centre of the monument.

Its original purpose is unknown, although archaeologists believe that it was most likely used for some form of ritual or ceremony.

The 2009 Solstice at Avebury

Avebury has been adopted as a sacred site by many adherents of contemporary Pagan religions such as Druidry, Wicca and Heathenry. These worshippers view the monument as a "living temple" which they associate with the ancestors, as well as with genii loci, or spirits of place.

While celebrations are cancelled this year, take a look through our online gallery for how the occasion has been marked in years go by.

You can also watch a video of the Avebury Summer Solstice in 2016 here.