Vandals target Pride event for third time in a row

Several hundred took part in a march through Leamington Spa on Saturday

Organisers of Warwickshire Pride have thanked the community for coming together and helping after the festival site was vandalised for a third year in a row.

"A gang" attacked the site in Leamington Spa's Pump Room Gardens overnight, with flags being torn down or stolen "as per usual", organiser Dan Browne said in a video on social media.

He appealed to the local community to come to help clean up, which prompted many to step in ahead of the event's start at 11:00 BST.

"We've managed to turn the vandalism, the negativity and the hate into something positive - pure community power," he said.

"They got into some of the tents. The trans tent in particular is pretty trashed," he said.

But he praised the "massive community response" posting "a big thank you to everyone who has turned up to help".

Pride festival organisers said it had been a "fantastic and positive day"

Mr Browne told BBC News: "It's been a really fantastic day of community power.

"And the community came together really early to put the site back together."

Several hundred people attended a march through the town centre with thousands visiting the festival site enjoying the atmosphere and performances, Mr Browne said.

Thousands were at the festival site, organiser Mr Browne said

"It's been a really fantastic and positive day," Mr Browne concluded.

Female drag queen Kirsty Minchella-Storer is performing at the event as her alter ego Mama Tasty.

Ms Minchella-Storer, from Warwickshire, is a well known name in drag circles in the Midlands.

Security was hired for this year's event, who did help minimise the damage after the site had previously been targeted by vandals.

Last year gazebos were destroyed, glass was strewn around the site and attempts made to set fire to flags.