HUNDREDS of people turned out to support the first Salisbury Pride parade on Saturday evening.

The Salisbury LBGT+ Group (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) organised the parade which began with a blessing by The Dean of Salisbury, The Very Reverend June Osborne.

It started at Salisbury Playhouse and ended at The Avon Brewery and The George & Dragon Inn.

Salisbury-based charity Serve On helped to marshal the event, which was supported by Salisbury Chamber of Commerce as well as Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue.

More than 500 people attended the parade with people not only coming from South Wiltshire, Southampton and Bournemouth but also Swindon, Reading and Oxford.

On Facebook, Tracy Benecke said: "Gotta say it - the first Salisbury Pride was blooming amazeballs!!!!! Lets hope this becomes a yearly event."

Flo Pants said: "Thank you to the organisers of this fabulous glittering affair, myself and my family had a wonderful time! The energy was amazing and we all felt part of something very special indeed!! Well done to you all."

And Cindy Vanstone said: "Thanks to everyone who accepted me at the Salisbury Pride yesterday. It was an honour to report on such an amazing event. I had so much fun and met some fantastic people. Looking forward to getting more and more involved in this amazing, diverse community."

One of the organisers, Beth Atwill, said: "I am so glad we organised Salisbury Pride. It was hard work but it really paid off to see everyone celebrating diversity, spreading the love and having a good time.

"I always had the dream that Salisbury would have a great LGBT+ scene and now I think this is being made reality."