City's bus gets rainbow makeover for Pride

The Pride bus has been launched ahead of Manchester's Pride weekend

Greater Manchester's Bee Network has launched its first ever Pride bus ahead of celebrations at the weekend.

The Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) Pride Bus has been unveiled alongside a tram, which was also given a rainbow makeover for Pride month in June.

The Manchester bus has been wrapped in rainbow colours, and is adorned with the slogan, Love connects everyone, to mark Pride weekend in the city centre.

Fran Wilkinson from TfGM said the vehicle was already out and about "so keep an eye out for it when travelling on the Bee Network".

Starling bikes, which are available to hire, have also been wrapped in rainbow Pride colours to mark Manchester Pride weekend

Organisers said Manchester Pride, which runs from 23 to 26 August, would revolve around three performance spaces in Manchester's Gay Village - the Village Stage in the middle of the event site, the Alan Turing Stage in Sackville Gardens and the Indoor Arena, which would provide "a warehouse-style clubbing experience".

Headliners are set to include Eurovision winner Loreen, singer Jessie J and a range of LGBTQ+ performers from Manchester.

Greater Manchester's Starling Bikes, which are available to hire, have also been given a rainbow makeover.

TfGM "strongly advised" motorists to avoid driving in the city centre this weekend.

Other events being held include England v Sri Lanka at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester City v Ipswich Town at the Etihad Stadium, New Order and Blossoms at Wythenshawe Park and Peter Kay at AO Arena.

Ms Wilkinson added: “If you are heading to one of the many fantastic events this weekend we’d urge you to plan ahead to make your journey as smooth as possible but most importantly, we hope everyone has a great time."

TfGM said trams would run every seven and a half minutes for the weekend events.

On Sunday a shuttle bus service will be operating between Stockport Interchange and Wythenshawe Park for Blossoms from 16:00 BST and return following the concert until the site is clear.