This year's Norwich Pride has been hailed as the most successful yet, with a record turnout of 7,000 people.

The city was painted in rainbow colours on Saturday as crowds piled on to the streets for the eight annual celebration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans community.

A procession of brightly- dressed revellers wound its way from Millennium Plain, outside the Forum, to Chapelfield Gardens, where entertainers, stalls and food were waiting.

Andy Futter, chairman of Norwich Pride, which costs about £10,000 a year to run, said he believed it was the 'biggest year yet'.

He said: 'It went really, really well. The atmosphere was incredible at the start and it stayed that way throughout the day.

'Sometimes these things peter out as the day goes on, but that was absolutely not the case.'

He said estimates suggested that about 6,000 people took part in the procession, with another 1,000 joining the celebrations later on.

The massive turnout comes despite a year of change for the Pride committee and this year's route was in reverse order to previous events, which began at the gardens.

Mr Futter said: 'It became clear that the event was growing bigger each year and ending at Millennium Plain was just not viable anymore.

'It meant that, this year, if people didn't want to listen to one particular act, they could have a wander, get a drink or something to eat.

'The start of the procession, right in the city centre, was also more striking.'

Mr Futter thanked Lord Mayor Marion Maxwell for her support, describing her as an 'ally and friend' to the cause.

Funds raised from the event are poured back into Pride, helping to keep the annual event free.

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