And organiser of Doncaster's gay pride festival today said the event is here to stay - thanks to the success of yesterday's day-long celebration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

The date for next year's event has already been pencilled into the pink calendar because it was such a great day for the gay community of South Yorkshire.

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Between 4,000 and 5,000 people attended the event in Doncaster Market Place - many of them in colourful attire, delighted organisers said today.

Jenny Dewsnap, vice-chair of Doncaster Pride, said afterwards: "It went very well and we had a fantastic crowd who enjoyed an exceptional day.

"It was all that we expected and we had a very good turnout. The gay community of Barnsley, Rotherham and Sheffield was well represented as well as lots coming from places like Hull, Leeds, Wakefield and some from as far away as London.

"We will definitely be repeating it next year - this event shows Doncaster is the right place to provide it. There were lots of families joining in and I came across no nastiness or animosity from other people in the town centre."

The festival provided six hours of live performances on a stage in the market after a march of unity from Doncaster Mansion House.

"We have already fixed the date for next year - August 16 - and I think this will be a permanent event in Doncaster," added Jenny.



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