As we’ve been reporting, hot weather will still dominate mostof the country today, so here’s some tips on how to keep yourself cool:

An amber heat-health alert is to remain in place for allregions in England until Monday because of the high temperatures we’reexpecting to see over the coming days.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued the alert onThursday, warning that “significant impacts are likely” across healthand social care services.

“Our findings show that heat can result in serioushealth outcomes across the population, especially for older adults or thosewith pre-existing health conditions,” says Dr Agostinho Sousa, UKHSA’shead of Extreme Events and Health Protection.

“It is therefore important to check on friends, familyand neighbours who are more vulnerable and to take sensible precautions whileenjoying the sun.”

BBC Bitesize

The summer solstice is the longest day of the year, giving us a chance to take advantage of added sunlight in what is set to be amongst the wettest summers on record.

It is widely celebrated across the globe, but as with any event of cultural significance, the solstice has accumulated many a myth and folktale over the years.

So we’re here to set the record straight, and help you sort the truth from the myths this summer solstice.

Is the summer solstice the hottest day of the year, do some places get 24 hours of daylight today and was Stonehenge really built to align with the Sun on the solstice?

We’ve got all the answers in our Mythbusters piece.

Have you been celebrating the summer solstice? Is the hot weather affecting you? Youcan contact us in the following ways:

• Email: bbcyourvoice@bbc.co.uk, external
• WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803
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Rorey Bosotti
Live editor

If you’re only just joining us, you have missed the main event but no fear – there’s still plenty to come. In the meantime, here’s a quick recap of what’s happened so far on the longest day of the year:

• Thousands of people gathered at Stonehenge to celebrate the summer solstice and mark the start of the astronomical summer
• Sunrise hit straight on time at 04:51 BST, marking the start of the longest day of the year – here’s a look at when the Sun will set in various parts of the world today

• For those who’ve slept in, don’t worry – we’ve been getting some gorgeous pictures of the sun rising from all over the country for you to wake up to
• If you’re planning a drive, the A303 – one of the main routes in and out of Stonehenge – is closed as the crowd starts leaving. Highway England expects normal traffic to resume between 12:45 and 13:00
• It was a hot night as we enter the fifth day under heatwave conditions – while parts of England and Wales will come under a thunderstorm warning later, it’ll be another day of high 20s and low 30s

Jamie Whitehead
Live editor

It was an early start for a many of us today as thousands gathered around the country to celebrate the summer solstice.

My co-editor Rorey and I weren’t quite up early enough to see the Sun rise on our way into work this morning, but these pictures of dawn breaking over the capital have made their way to us.

As a reminder, it could be the hottest day in June in six years today, but there are yellow thunderstorm warnings in parts of the country.

Matt Taylor
BBC Weather

Although some parts of England and Wales are subject to ayellow thunderstorm warning, as we reported in our previous post, some parts ofEast Anglia are expected to have their fifth day under heatwave conditions.

If we hit 34 Celsius today it will be the hottest June dayin six years.

However, temperatures will have already dropped in NorthernIreland relative to recent days, and as westerly winds gradually develop intoSunday that fresher will reach all by Monday.

It’s conceivable though that some in East Anglia may stillbe above the heatwave threshold on Sunday.

The Met Office forecasts yellow thunderstorm warnings for parts of northern England, the Midlands and Wales from Saturday afternoon into Sunday.

While it will be a dry, at times bright start for many, the Met Office’s yellow storm warning will remain in place from 15:00 BST on Saturday until 04:00 on Sunday, with the potential for localised flash flooding, large hail and lightning.

The Met Office says: “The most intense thunderstorms could produce frequent lightning, large hail and gusty winds, along with some heavy downpours for a time. This may lead to some surface water impacts in places.”

You can keep up to date with the latest forecasts across the UK in our news story.

The sunrise this morning was pictured by thousands across the UK as crowds welcomed in the summer solstice – the longest day of the year.

Here is a snapshot of some of the pictures we’ve received so far – and you can send us more on WhatsApp at 0800 313 4630.

Forecasters expect temperatures to peak at around 33C on Saturday but it is unlikely to be the highest temperature experienced on the day of the summer solstice.

That record was set in 2017 at Heathrow Airport when 34.5C was recorded.

Typically while this solstice is the day with the most sunlight, the UK’s weather becomes hotter later in the summer when more heat has accumulated in the air and the ground.

Matt Spivey
Live page editor

Thousands of people gathered at various sites across the UK this morning to watch the sunset to mark the summer solstice – the longest day of the year.

We’ve been receiving stunning photos of the sky this morning in Stonehenge, Glastonbury, Lancaster, Cheltenham and many other parts of the UK.

Cheers erupted as the sun rose over Stonehenge this morning, with people across the UK heading out to “celebrate the sun”.

The glorious sun rise marked the start of what is set to be another hot day, with temperatures forecast to reach up to 34C and a yellow warning for thunderstorms.

Stay with us throughout the day for the latest updates during the longest day of the year, and do keep sending in your pictures – get in touch on WhatsApp by using 0800 313 4630.

So many of you are sending through your beautiful photos to us via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630, external.

English Heritage has estimated about 25,000 people attended the solstice at Stonehenge this year, with the warm weather helping to swell the crowd numbers.

Julia Richardson, Stonehenge operations manager, told BBC Breakfast they have not had numbers like this for at least the past decade.

She said it was a “perfect combination” of the weather leading into the weekend that brought the crowds out.

“It’s been a lovely, peaceful event with an amazing atmosphere,” she added.

Tens of thousands if people witnessed a beautiful sunrise this morning at Stonehenge, in Wiltshire.

This was the moment the Sun made its first appearance, much to the crowd’s delight.

If you slept in and missed the start of the longest day of the year,don’t worry.

The BBC’s new adventure in Roblox can transport you to Stonehenge,with a game or two along the way.

Solstice is celebrated across the world and now Roblox players can explorea virtual Stonehenge in the BBC’s very own space on the popular platform, BBCWonder Chase.

Inside BBC Wonder Chase, players can take part in a fun mini-gameand learn about the solstice and the prehistoric site.

In English, the word solstice comes from the Latin wordsolstitium, meaning “sun standing still”, and players can see this in action as the sun in the gameslowly descends towards Stonehenge, stopping at the iconic monument at theexact moment of the solstice in the real world.

BBC Wonder Chase on Roblox has seen more than 4.5 million players and hasfeatured everything from Doctor Who to Wallace & Gromit. Last year, playerscould even meet Larry the Cat around the time of the UK general election.

You can check it out here, external – or bysearching “BBC Wonder Chase” in Roblox.

Sammy Jenkins
BBC News, Live page reporter

One Cheltenham family has been celebrating more than the summer solstice in Gloucestershire this morning – because their son Laurie turns two today.

His mum Rebecca said: “Two years ago, little Laurie made a very quick entrance into the world – my husband delivered him at home half an hour before sunrise.

“He was born at 3.45am and we saw the sunrise with the paramedics in our bathroom.”

She described it as a “magic moment” and said the family now go to Leckhampton Hill, in Cheltenham, to mark the summer solstice every year.

“He’s my summer solstice boy,” Rebecca added.

More of your images – from Primrose Hill in London to Ramsgate in Kent.

Sammy Jenkins
BBC News, Live page reporter

Large queues have started to form as people leave Stonehenge in Wiltshire after watching the sun rise.

The A303, one of the main routes in and out of the site, remains closed after vehicles were parked on the side of the carriageway.

National Highways said the road is closed between Deptford and the A345 Countess Road.

“Please follow diversion routes, and take care if you’re making your way to site, including being very alert to pedestrians if you’re driving in,” it said.

We’ve been inundated with your sunrise images from across the UK.

Thanks so much for sending them in via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630., external

Our reporter Liam McGuinn captured the moment the sun rose over Somerset, and Glastonbury Tor.

There will more celebrations there later in the week when Glastonbury Festival gets under way.

Don’t forget, you can watch and listen to the festival across the BBC.