THE Royal Air Force is to use this year's gay pride festival in Manchester on Saturday and Sunday as part of a recruitment drive.

Uniformed servicemen will be on a float at the main parade this weekend and a mobile office will be set up.

Gays and lesbians were only allowed to join the forces four years ago when the European Court of Human Rights said not allowing gays and lesbians in the forces was breaching an individual's right to a private life.