PICTURES: Fun in the sun as thousands attend successful Bradford Pride celebration

The annual lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender festival is famous for its friendly and intimate atmosphere and some 30,000 visitors passed through the partying area outside City Hall.

Barriers opened at 1pm to let in waiting crowds, including Bradford Pride regular Sophie Ball, who had travelled from Warrington with Kim, her wife of 31 years.

"I love it here, its got such a great communal feeling," said Sophie, a transgender van driver who surgically swapped sexes 15 years ago.

Wearing an ornate masque and dressed like a rainbow bird of paradise, Sophie said her journey to release her inner sexuality had been like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly.

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"I was always Sophie, but it took a long time for her emerge.

"This is the fourth time I've been to Bradford Pride and it's lovely because it's a family-friendly event - and it's free.

"And freedom is what it's all about!" she said.

Steam-punk Sheila Atkinson, from Bradford's Manchester Road area, was on one of the many stalls that ringed the park and was selling pretty little medals with the word "camp" dangling from rainbow ribbon.

"I'm not a lesbian, but my daughter is and I've come to all the Bradford Prides.

"They've just got bigger and better and importantly, more inclusive over the years," Ms Atkinson said.

"I'm a political artist, a socialist, and I like to make clothing and hats for people.

"As well as the glamour of the parade, this has become much more of a proper event," she said.

A youth tent offered henna art, circus skills and dancing fun throughout the day as folk drifted in and out of City Park or while others sat and indulged in intense people-watching.

Face painting was not confined to children and many bore the red-printed message Bradford Pride on their cheeks while others advertised "free hugs" on their chests.

Wisps of spun sugar in the breeze came from a solar-powered organic and Fairtrade candyfloss machine being run by Bradford-born Sara Rushworth.

"Sadly I've had to move to Leeds, but this is my second year at Bradford Pride and I love it," she said, offering three floss flavours of bubblegum, strawberry or lime and coconut.

A relaxed attitude to outdoor alcohol meant many Pride goers brought their own refreshments, including one large group of women who were using stacked packs of beer as drinkable stools.

Performances began on the stage with local band Issimo and compere for the six hour festival was the city's own "drag goddess" Mysti Valentine.

"This is my fifth year hosting Bradford Pride and it's City Park's best party of the year."

"It really does celebrate diversity, equality and love," said Mysti, also known as Jenny Wilson, who runs the creative group Irregular Arts.

"We're currently organising a massive Wizard of Oz event where City park will be turned into the Yellow Brick Road and we'll have 75 Dorothys," she said.

Bradford Council contributed £5,000 towards the cost of the event and its executive member for culture Susan Hinchcliffe said: "It was great to see thousands of people enjoying the music, stalls and sunshine. I congratulate the organisers on a really successful event."

Chair of Bradford Pride, Ann Morgan in an eye-popping pink hi-viz vest, said the tenth anniversary bash was a fantastic success.

"Loads of people come to Bradford because it's known for being so friendly and family-orientated.

"Some do a tour of all the Prides in the country and others come because they follow the bands.

"We've also got some deaf people who've come over from Wakefield because we have signers on stage."

And witnessing the sign-language to the late, great Errol Brown's "You Sexy Thing" would have been worth the trip from Wakey in itself.

"It's all about making everybody welcome," Ms Morgan said.

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