An investigation has been launched to find the person responsible for a bomb scare which delayed the start of Brighton Pride's annual parade.

The Argus:

A suspect package was discovered on the A259 by the bandstand at 11.10am on Saturday (August 1) before the Brighton Pride Parade was due to start.

It caused a delay of an hour and a half to the start of the celebrations and meant organisers, working with Sussex Police and Brighton and Hove City Council, were forced to reroute the parade.

The Argus:

Chief Superintendent Nev Kemp said: "We believe the item was placed there deliberately and made to look like a suspicious device to disrupt the parade. We have started a criminal investigation."

He added: "We were concerned enough to call in the bomb disposal unit, who after making a further assessment, carried out a controlled explosion.

"The area had been cordoned off and there was no risk to the public."

The Argus:

Around 160,000 people were expected in the city for the biggest public event on Brighton and Hove's calendar.

Police say 35 arrests were made on Saturday for suspected offences related to possession of drugs, robbery, assault and public disorder.

The Argus:

Acting chief executive Geoff Raw of Brighton and Hove City Council said: "I want to thank everyone who worked so hard to ensure the Pride Parade was such a success in the face of real adversity.

"Particularly the police, organisers Brighton Pride and of course our Events and Highways teams who managed to successfully plan and execute an alternate route at the very last minute."