Security considered after Pride festival vandalism

Hundreds of people took part in this year's Warwickshire Pride

Organisers of a Pride event say they may have to hire security in the future after their site was vandalised for a successive year.

Three hundred people marched through Leamington Spa in Warwickshire on Saturday to celebrate Warwickshire Pride.

But Daniel Browne from the group said they turned up before the parade in the morning to find their festival site damaged.

"We had our gazebos destroyed, glass was strewn around the site, people tried to set fire to our flags and tore them all down," he said.

Warwickshire Police were investigating the damage and, Mr Browne suggested, as a hate crime.

He added on the charity's Facebook page that coming in on Saturday morning to see the vandalism in the Pump Room Gardens was "really disheartening" and made him "quite angry".

Daniel Browne said it had been "disheartening" to see the damage caused overnight

Similar vandalism took place last year and, while Mr Browne said security might have to be hired in future, he added the community helped make repairs.

"It's bad but actually it's really brought the community together so in a way I thank the vandals," he explained.

The Pride festival was held in the Pump Room Gardens in the town

Fairground rides were among the attractions at the event