Early risers watch the sunrise on the longest day of the year
BBC Radio Shropshire presenter Eric Smith was on air earlier than normal this morning for the summer solstice sunrise.
Broadcasting live from Lyth Hill near Shrewsbury Eric was joined by other early risers including Julie who had made the journey from West Felton near Oswestry to see the sunrise at 4.46am from the popular beauty spot.
Speaking to shropshirelive.com editor, Chris Pritchard, Eric said: “What a great morning, the sky is blue the sunrise was magnificent and the views from Lyth Hill looking out across Shropshire are wonderful on this summer morning."
Throughout today BBC Radio Shropshire will be following Shropshire life from dawn to dusk on the longest day of the year. The day began with Paul Shuttleworth at 4.30am and will end with Genevieve Tudor broadcasting live from Clee Hill in south Shropshire as the sun sets around 9.36pm.
The summer solstice is officially the longest day of the year when the sun reaches its northernmost point in the sky. The solstice also marks the first day of the summer season in the northern hemisphere.
The word solstice is from the Latin word “solstitium”, meaning “sun-stopping”, because the point at which the sun appears to rise and set stops and reverses direction after this day.
