THE winter solstice is the shortest day of the year, and typically takes place on December 21 or 22 each year.

It is the day of the year when the earth's rotation causes Britain to have less sunlight than usual, causing it to be the shortest day of the year.

A monolith in Birchwood has been likened to Stonehenge because it uses sunlight to cast spectacular shadows across its landscape.

Warrington Guardian: The monolith has been casting shadows across the area during winterThe monolith has been casting shadows across the area during winter (Image: Tim Prevett)

It has been theorised for centuries that Stonehenge is a large-scale sundial, as well as a calendar, using sunlight to tell the time and even the date.

On the south side of Birchwood Way, where it heads east over the M6, stands a stone monolith that points to the solstice in the same way that Stonehenge does.

One man from Culcheth has been looking into the monolith in Birchwood, and has been waiting for opportunities like this to study the stone spectacle.

Tim Prevett has been observing the monolith in Birchwood for three years - he said: "When I first visited, the stone's accompanying earthwork with an opening on its southeast side immediately struck me and I thought there had to be something solsticial going on.

"From around December 12-30, you can observe the sun rising and setting at the same place.

"I got to the standing stone in good time, knowing there would be a cloudless sunrise. Then just after twenty past eight, the sun appeared at the end of Birchwood Boulevard, through the now leafless trees, just like a light switching on."

Tim says that places like this, in Birchwood, encourage a connection with the natural world, and they 'point to the hope and light of Christmas' when life becomes difficult.

The Culcheth-based enthusiast says that there are similar monoliths on the Orkney Islands, as well as at Stonehenge, but the Warrington spot is a spectacle in itself.

Warrington Guardian: The structure casts incredible shadows across the areaThe structure casts incredible shadows across the area (Image: Tim Prevett)

Tim added: "I understand this site would have been built as part of Warrington New Town development about 50 years ago, and would be very pleased to know what the architects were thinking when they planned this megalithic site.

"It's been a delight to research and finally observe in person this planned solsticial alignment.

"You don't have to travel to Stonehenge to see something meaningful with the sun at midwinter."

Birchwood's monolith can be found on Birchwood Way, as it passes eastbound over the M6 - the solstice can be observed at the site until around Friday, December 30.