Brighton Pride a "great success" despite arrests

A major gay pride event went off without a hitch although 28 arrests were made, police said.

Up to 160,000 people are thought to have attended Brighton and Hove's Pride festivities which began with a parade through the city centre and ended with a party in Preston Park.

Sussex Police said by 1am today, 28 arrests had been made for offences relating to possession of drugs, theft, actual bodily harm and public disorder. Chief Superintendent Nev Kemp, Brighton and Hove's divisional commander, said the fine weather brought people in their tens of thousands to enjoy the day at the park and evening at the Pride Village Party in Kemp Town.

He said: "This is one of the biggest policing operations we manage, and it could not happen without the support and hard work from all those involved and the thousands of people who travel from far and wide to attend it and help make it an amazing and fun event.

"I was delighted to be able to march in the parade again this year, which has to be one of the most enjoyable duties I undertake.

"I am also hugely proud of the officers who have been policing Pride this year, many of whom worked very long and busy shifts but remained positive and professional throughout.

This year's theme was The World's A Disco to celebrate the dance, music and colour of the globe, a Pride spokesman said.

Costumes and floats highlighted not only the diversity of the world's dancefloors but the plight of those across the globe whose basic freedom to live is denied, he said.

Campaigning under the theme Freedom To Live, the parade included 78 placards representing those countries where homosexual acts are illegal.

MP Caroline Lucas also received loud cheers as she made her way along the route on the Green Party float.

Ms Lucas, who represents the Brighton Pavilion constituency, tweeted a picture of herself with a Green Party supporter as she prepared to take part in the day's events, describing the parade as "wonderful".

The ticketed event in Preston Park saw a line-up of DJs, drag acts and dance, and included performances by boyband Blue, Katy B and a disco finale from X Factor winner Sam Bailey.

Following her performance the singer tweeted: "Absolutely loved @PrideBrighton tonight. I actually felt quite famous xx lol lovely crowd! thanks for being awesome #freedomtolive."

The charity that organises the world's biggest trip to the Florida theme parks for seriously ill children has received a major boost. Dreamflight has been adopted by the Royal International Horse Show at Hicksted in Sussex, one of the biggest events in the show jumping calendar. Charity organisers say without support from big events the trip couldn't go ahead. Mike Pearse reports.

160,000 people have been in Brighton today for the annual Pride Parade. Organisers say the turnout has been the highest ever. John Ryall reports.

Brighton's Pride parade is due to set off at 11 o'clock this morning. 160,000 people are expected to join the festival of diversity - focusing on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.

The festival of diversity - focusing on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities - attracts around a hundred and sixty thousand people.

X Factor's Sam Bailey will be performing as part of the main show tomorrow night.

We speak to Paul Kemp, the managing director of the Brighton Pride festival.