Pride flags and bunting torn down and stolen

Organiser Huw Rees (centre) said he did not want to focus on the negativity but events like his were important and would continue

Bunting, posters and a rainbow flag put up to celebrate Bridgnorth Pride were torn down and stolen by people opposing the event, organisers say.

About 250 people attended the event last weekend, including Bridgnorth mayor David Cooper, West Mercia Police, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service and the National Trust.

But organiser Huw Rees said although the event passed off without any trouble, items were removed or stolen in the lead up and the aftermath.

He said he planned to run the event again next year and "the negativity shows exactly why Pride events are needed in small rural towns like Bridgnorth".

About 250 attended the event and enjoyed a parade around part of the town

After a parade around Castle Walk and the grounds, there was a performance by Shropshire Rock Choir and events in local venues, he said.

"The rainbow flag was pulled down from the town council flagpole and stolen after just two days, while posters have been torn off windows and bunting has been ripped off railings, some binned and some stolen," he said.

"This is on top of many hundreds of homophobic and transphobic comments on social media."

Mr Rees said he started the event two years ago after experiencing homophobic abuse in Bridgnorth but said he did not want to focus on the negativity as events like his were important and would continue.

"Cities have LGBTQ+ venues year-round and access to them is easy. Shropshire has very few venues catering specifically to the LGBTQ+ community, if any at all, and the lack of public transport makes access to cities difficult.

"This isolates the local LGBTQ+ community from support, but by holding a Pride event here it gives them an opportunity to come together in solidarity."