Jimmy Somerville and runners-up from the hit TV series Popstars are among the acts performing at this year's Pride gay festival in Brighton.

Pride in Brighton and Hove is one of the biggest gay and lesbian events in the UK and organisers predict this year's will be the best-attended to date.

Up to 10,000 people are expected to take part in the parade on August 11, with 20,000 more lining the streets from the seafront to Preston Park.

Last year thousands of people travelled from across the UK to celebrate their sexuality and turn the city into a carnival of colour.

Hotels, bars and nightclubs were filled to capacity and almost £14,000 was raised for local voluntary groups during the weekend.

Launching the event in Brighton last night, organisers admitted there had been difficulties in securing major sponsorship but vowed the event would remain free and non-profit-making.

The parade will start in Madeira Drive at 11am before making its way through the Old Steine, past Victoria Gardens, along London Road and into Preston Park.

The parade theme is Myths and Legends and leading the way will be the official Pride float based on A Midsummer Night's Dream.

The line-up of acts appearing in Preston Park is still to be finalised but among those confirmed are Jimmy Somerville, Horse, Hazel Dean and Coco from Fragma.

Popstars runners-up Liberty will be making one of their first live appearances.

Organisers have hinted that a surprise from the Big Brother TV show is planned.