BRIGHTON Pride has beaten its own fundraising record having raised a six-figure sum for good causes for the first time in its history.

This year’s spectacular LGBTU celebration in the city has raised £100,000 for local organisations and good causes.

The landmark figure was hit despite rising costs both anticipated and unexpected – including an additional £12,000 in security costs following the two hour bomb scare delay to the parade.

Despite the success, director Paul Kemp expressed disappointment that more money had not been raised towards a newly-launched social impact fund with some businesses refusing to take part in fundraising.

This year’s figure continues the rapid improvement in fundraising through the current leadership of Mr Kemp and Dulcie Weaver having raised £65,000 in 2014 and more than £43,000 in 2013 for the Rainbow Fund which distributes the money to local LGBT and HIV/AIDS organisations.

This year the Rainbow Fund will share the Pride proceeds with a new community impact fund designed to support local groups in neighbourhoods most disrupted by the weekend of celebrations including around Preston Park and St James’s Street.

Mr Kemp said: “While Pride’s sole aim is to provide benefit to the community there is a misconception that Pride makes huge profits from the weekend.

"All ticket revenue raised goes directly to the operational and running costs of producing the Pride Festival, Pride Community Parade, Pride Village Party and Pride’s community fundraising campaigns.”

Despite the success, Mr Kemp warned that the event faced significant challenges over the next few years with costs for Cityclean, security and policing expected to rise, raising big decisions on how Pride was funded going forwarded.

He said he hoped that more local businesses and organisations who currently benefitted from the £13 million Pride brought to the city would contribute to future fundraising efforts “rather than just reaping the financial rewards”.

He added: "We are disappointed that more money has not be raised from collection tins towards the new Social Impact Fund and that so many shops and venues along the parade route and city declined to take collection tins, publicity posters and help with our fundraising, but we still managed to raise almost £10,000 towards this year’s fund which is a great start.”