Summer solstice: Crowds at King Edward's Bay Tynemouth

King Edward's Bay in Tynemouth was packed with happy swimmers and groups of people waiting to see the event on Wednesday (June 19).

Over a dozen people gathered around a small fire and took a dip in the sea as daylight slipped away, the sky turned a fiery yellow and the sun dipped slowly over the horizon after 9pm.

But, what is a summer solstice?

Royal Museums Greenwich explained: “The summer solstice occurs in June in the Northern Hemisphere and marks midsummer: the 'longest day' and 'shortest night' of the year.

“On this day, the number of hours of daylight are at their maximum, while the number of hours of night are at their minimum.

“However, while most people consider the summer solstice to be a day, it is in reality an exact moment in time that falls upon that day.

“This moment comes when whichever hemisphere you're in is most tilted towards the Sun.”

Here are just a few pictures from the night.

Crowds gather at King Edward's Bay in Tynemouth for the Summer Solstice. (Image: NNP)

Crowds gather at King Edward's Bay in Tynemouth for the Summer Solstice. (Image: NNP)

Crowds gather at King Edward's Bay in Tynemouth for the Summer Solstice. (Image: NNP)

Crowds gather at King Edward's Bay in Tynemouth for the Summer Solstice. (Image: NNP)

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Crowds gather at King Edward's Bay in Tynemouth for the Summer Solstice. (Image: NNP)

Crowds gather at King Edward's Bay in Tynemouth for the Summer Solstice. (Image: NNP)