One of Pride's main event organisers has died of a suspected heart attack.

Paul Wilde, believed to have been in his 50s, collapsed at his home in London on Tuesday night.

He was first involved with Brighton Pride in 1996, running a small market on The Level before moving to produce the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) festival in Preston Park in 1997.

Brighton Pride was one of the first events he produced and remained the flagship event for his company, Wilde Ones. It is now the largest LGBT free festival in Europe.

PJ Aldred, operations manager for Pride, said: "It is with great sadness we learnt of the death of Paul Wilde.

"A true champion of the charity, there is no question Paul was instrumental in shaping Pride's landmark annual event to what it is today.

"He brought a certain directness and was a very pragmatic man. Very blunt but extremely good at what he did.

"He built a fantastic working relationship with the local authority, the police and the fire service.

"Every year he would move on to the Pride site the Monday before the festival and stay until the Wednesday after to make sure the whole thing ran smoothly.

"He became a very close friend and it will be hard for all the team to work the event without him. But it will go on.

"Paul was one in a million and I am shocked to hear he will no longer be around. We have all lost a great man and a true friend."

The Pride Board will meet tomorrow to decide on a fitting tribute for Paul at this year's event on August 4.

Paul's funeral has not been arranged yet but is likely to be in London. He is survived by his partner, Greg.