A NEW festival raising awareness of hate crime against the LGBT community could be coming to Horwich next year.

Organiser Anthony Bonney, aged 23, came up with the idea for Horwich Colour Festival after volunteering at this year's Bolton Pride, which attracted thousands of people to the town centre.

He and co-founder Ryan Shaw are hoping to hold a one-day festival featuring live performances and market stalls on a different date to Bolton Pride so as not to draw focus away from the huge annual event.

Mr Bonney, who lives in Moses Gate, Farnworth, said: "I felt like the community of Horwich was missing out on such a key event in the community, as residents would have to travel six miles to get to Bolton town centre for Bolton Pride, and what a fantastic way to put Horwich on the map.

"Horwich doesn’t have much of an LGBT community but that’s not going to stop us as we are here for the whole community, also for the different religious groups as well.

"I’m hoping by having Horwich Colour Festival we can help people to speak out if they are having hatred thrown at them by anyone in the community."

He stressed that the concept was at an early stage and that he was due to have meetings to sort out a venue.

The idea has received the support of Bolton Pride organisers and Horwich town councillor Peter Wright has been named as the trustee.

He added: "In my mind, I would like a toned down version of Bolton Pride, with the stage and the stalls, once a year but obviously we need the venue and funds."

Mr Bonney, who identifies himself as bi-sexual, said it was important to tackle all types of hate crime, not just that which is aimed at the LGBT community.

He said: "The event is to raise awareness of hate crime against the community but also hate crime in general, the religious groups as well for example.

"I did get a message from a member of the LGBT community in Horwich who said the people there are accepting, which is brilliant obviously."

Mr Bonney is currently on the lookout for anybody who would like to sponsor the event.

Anyone interested should go to horwichcolourfestival.co.uk