Tens of thousands of revellers descended on Brighton for this year's Pride festivities – a festival which attracts people from across the world and is one of the biggest events in the city's calendar.

Excited crowds lined the parade route, which wound along the seafront under bright blue skies, before continuing up through the city centre towards Preston Park.  With its ‘Out Of This World’ theme more than 50 entrants including businesses and emergency services took part in the parade.

Preston Park soon filled up with a diverse mix of revellers, who took advantage of the continuous sunshine to dance, enjoy drinks, or just sit on the grass with friends. Crowds packed out the 8,000-capacity dance tent throughout the afternoon, while the Live Stage – a new addition for 2011 – saw high-energy performances from X Factor winners Alexandra Burke and Joe McElderry.

Brighton & Hove Gay Men’s Chorus also performed on the Live Stage.  They have just signed a £1 million record deal with major label Universal Records joining the likes of U2, Grace Jones, PJ Harvey and Paul Weller.  Brighton & Hove Gay Men’s Chorus, the first gay chorus to join a major record label, are due to release their debut album in October and hope to tour at the end of this year.

Record crowds flocked to the post-Pride St James’s Street party this year to join in the fun.  One reveller declared this year’s Brighton Pride was the best she had attended and another that Brighton Pride is quite literally one of the best organised, most beautiful festivals ever.  The whole city of Brighton & Hove had a party spirit throughout the day!