RESIDENTS of Avebury have come out against making any special arrangements for the summer solstice celebrations for fear of attracting more visitors than the village can cope with.

A survey taken by the parish council in July has come out against setting aside a field so that those who flock to see the sun rise over the Sarsen stones on Midsummer's Day can park their cars and camp out without interfering with other village activities.

Some 49 of the 81 respondents to the questionnaire said no to making it an official event with all the health and safety issues that such occasions demand.

While some said that visitors should be made to pay for such facilities, others came down strongly against the idea, fearing it would turn the village into a semi-permanent camp site.

Fifty-six respondents said they would prefer that arrangements stayed more or less as they are, with the police and National Trust and English Heritage wardens overseeing proceedings.

Some said they wished the solstice didn't happen at all, or wanted it relocated.

Parish council chairman Jenny Baldrey said the survey had been launched because the National Trust had done one for visitors to the World Heritage Site and the council felt they needed to know the strength of feeling in the village.

Mrs Baldrey said: "I was particularly pleased that the work of the police was praised because they do work very hard to make sure it all goes smoothly.

"We wanted to be sure we were in tune with the opinions of most of our parishioners and the responses lead us to think we are.

"We particularly note that people are not happy about having a field as a car park because that could lead to it becoming a traditional festival, which is all right at Stonehenge, but our village is right in the middle of the stones and the effect on our way of life would be awful."