Newcastle warms up for Pride

Newcastle Pride returns for its tenth year and is promising its best ever line up.

The festival has gone from humble beginnings to one of the UK's largest free gatherings for the LGBT community - that's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender - it now spans across three days

Exhibition Park will play host to the launch of this year's event as hundreds of people will kick off celebrations with a fun run.

10 years ago, Pride drew 4000 people - this weekend more than 70,000 people are expected to turn out from all walks of life - bringing in excess of £10million to local economy

Organisers say that's been helped largely by people coming from around the world to stay in the city - and Newcastle being marketed as a friendly destination.

Ahead of the festival, ITV Tyne Tees have spoken to Stephen Patterson from NE1 and Event Director Mark Nichols.