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Thousands turn out for Brighton Pride parade | |
(about 14 hours later) | |
A parade to celebrate Pride in Brighton has taken place in front of some 160,000 people lining the streets. | |
The parade followed a changed route and was delayed by 90 minutes following the discovery of a suspicious package on the seafront. | |
This year's event was due to follow a new "high-profile" route that included King's Road, the peace statue, and the city's seafront, organisers said. | |
But it avoided the seafront alert area and went along Western Road. | |
Ch Supt Nev Kemp said expert explosives officers dealt with the package and there was no immediate risk to the public. | |
He said police worked with Pride organisers to resolve the situation as quickly as possible. | |
Pride was being held in the city for the 25th time this year. | |
When the new route was announced, organisers said the community parade was going back to its roots, because many past Pride marches had begun at the peace statue. | |
During the alert, organisers apologised for the delay. | |
They later tweeted: "And the 25th anniversary parade is off. A little late, but all good things are worth waiting for." | |
'Celebrate the diversity' | |
Attractions in the city on Saturday include dance troupes, drag queens and campaigning groups. | |
Before the event, Paul Kemp, the director of Pride Brighton, said: "It's a celebration and it brings in a lot of people from all over the world. | |
"Economically, it's very good for the city and brings in £3.5m. | "Economically, it's very good for the city and brings in £3.5m. |
"Behind the celebrations it highlights LGBT campaigns all over the world. There's a long way to go globally to bring about equality." | "Behind the celebrations it highlights LGBT campaigns all over the world. There's a long way to go globally to bring about equality." |
Peter Kyle, MP for Hove and Portslade, said: "Pride is many things to many people. There are people who are straight who have got families who go along to celebrate the diversity of our city." | |
Brighton DJ Fatboy Slim was playing in the Wild Fruit dance tent in Preston Park, and the cabaret tent will be hosted by Lola Lasagne. | |
Other acts appearing included The Human League, Ruby Rose and Ella Henderson. | |