BOLTON Pride organisers are including a parade in this year's extravaganza – and are looking for people to take part.

The festival, which is now in its second year, will be hosting its first Love Bolton Hate Homophobia parade on September 24.

The parade will start at Spa Road at noon and move through the town along Marsden Road and Deansgate before entering Victoria Square. There will then be a concert at the steps of Bolton Town Hall.

The pride parade will be made up of charity groups, support groups, service providers and local businesses all of which will be support the events theme this year 'to stand up to hate crime'.

Businesses sponsoring the festival this year are Russell and Russell solicitors, The Venue, Bolton at Home and the Be Safe and Bolton Strategic Partnership.

Amanda Connor, head of family law at Russell and Russell Solicitors, said: “We’re delighted to be sponsoring this year’s Pride Parade.

"It’s the very first one and we’re really excited to be joining in the celebrations.

"We get a lot of enquiries from the LGBT community; anything from starting a family to cohabitation issues to adoption as well as making a will and moving home, so it was a natural choice for us to partner with Bolton Pride.

"It promises to be a fantastic event that everyone can get involved in and something that Bolton can be really proud of.”

Lisa O'Neill Roga, who is the co-founder of Bolton Pride, said: "Having a parade in our second year of Bolton Pride is really important.

"We are all living in difficult times and the increase in hate crime and fear of others who are different means that more than ever people need opportunities and spaces to come together to share and celebrate what we all have in common, a desire for joy and love.”

To join the parade email: lisa@boltonpride.com.

More information on the festival can be found at: www.boltonpride.co.uk