In Pictures: Crowds gather to celebrate Beltain with burning of 40ft wicker man

Pentacle Drummers performed during the traditional Celtic fire festival (Andrew Matthews/PA)

By PA Reporter

Crowds gathered to mark the coming of summer with a traditional Celtic fire festival held at Butser Ancient Farm in Hampshire.

The experimental archaeology site in Waterlooville hosted the burning of a 40ft wicker man at dusk to mark the pagan quarter-day farming celebration of Beltane or Beltain, which has connections to later May Day celebrations.