Birmingham Pride: Tens of thousands march in street celebration

BBC New Street crowds watching Birmingham PrideBBC
Large crowds filled New Street to watch the procession

Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets of Birmingham for the city's annual Pride parade.

The two-day event began with a parade from the city centre to the Gay Village in Hurst Street.

Huge crowds watched colourful floats in the procession, with large cheers greeting staff from West Midlands Police, West Midlands Ambulance Service and West Midlands Fire Service.

Headline artists at the festival include Rudimental, Jake Shears from the Scissor Sisters and Beth Ditto.

BBC Pride participant ready for the paradeBBC
This reveller chose a host of colours for his costume as he prepared to join the parade from Victoria Square
BBC Drag artists at Birmingham PrideBBC
Drag artists were ready to party in Birmingham
BBC Colourful outfits at Birmingham PrideBBC
This group was one of many colourful sights at the event
BBC Bullring bull with a rainbow wigBBC
Even Birmingham's bull entered the spirit of Pride
BBC Stonewall members at PrideBBC
Members of Stonewall carried placards through the streets of the city
BBC Running club membersBBC
Running club members took part in a quick dash to entertain the crowds
BBC Pensioner taking part in PrideBBC
The event attracted people of all ages
BBC Flamboyant costumesBBC
Flamboyant costumes lit up the parade

Birmingham Pride events are taking place in and around the city's gay village on 26 and 27 May.