West Sussex County Council is set to become the first English authority outside of London to employ a Stonewall employee.

Dave Small, the gay, lesbian and bisexual charity’s regional workplace associate for the region, will work in Chichester as part of a six-month trial.

The council, which is one of the charity’s diversity champions, was one of a number of organisations in the region that expressed an interest in supporting Stonewall’s initiative.

Mr Hill said he hoped the posting would allow him to attend forums in the county as well as speaking to local organisations that wished to work with the charity.

Up to now Stonewall has had representatives only in London, Wales and Scotland.

To find out more about the County Council’s services for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) people, visit www.westsussex.gov.uk.