IN PICS: Belfast Pride

Thousands lined the streets of Belfast and thousands more took part in this year's Belfast Pride Parade.

It was anticipated as many as 8,000 could take part with a further 15,000 spectators.

This year's event marked the first time uniformed PSNI and Garda officers took part in the march.Around 40 joined the procession and they were applauded by some sections of the onlookers.

Earlier, the rainbow flag had been hoisted at Stormont House to mark the city's Pride festival.

Taioseach Leo Varadkar, the Republic of Ireland's first openly gay leader, attended a breakfast event where he said he believed the introduction of same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland was just a matter of time.

"It is of course a decision for the Northern Ireland Assembly, but I am confident that like other western European countries they will make that decision in due course," he said.