Tens of thousands flock to Brighton for Pride

The Brighton Pride parade is under way with tens of thousands of people crowding the town centre.

The colourful procession in Madeira Drive and the route follows the seafront to the bottom of West Street, down North Street then via London Road to Preston Park.

For details of road closure, click on the link below. Bus passengers can also expect delays and diversions. For more information click here.

The theme this year is “the freedom to live”, recognising the many parts of the world where gay men and women are still persecuted.

In Brighton and Hove the focus has long shifted from an assertion and affirmation to a day of celebration.

The party in the park runs from noon to 10pm – later than previous years – with 30,000 people expected to join the fun.

The peak period for people entering the park is likely to be between 1pm and 3pm.

Tickets for the sell-out event cost between £9 and £25 with early bookers paying less. The £25 fee is for those bought on the day.

Thousands more people will head to the St James’s Street area of Brighton where a wristband system is being used for the first time. There is a £5 charge. The organisers said that this was for reasons of safety and public order.

On a more serious note, tomorrow (Sunday 3 August) the LGBT CommunitySafety Forum is hosting a sunset vigil called the Celebration of Love and Life with Pride. It takes place by the AIDS memorial in New Steine Gardens at 8.30pm for a 9pm start.

Among those taking part in the parade today (Saturday 2 August) were Brighton and Hove mayor Brian Fitch with the Sussex police and crime commissioner Katy Bourne.