Early showers mixed with afternoon sunshine left Brighton bathed in a rainbow for Pride 2011.

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets to mark the annual celebration of gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and trans-gender culture.

This year was the first time organisers had charged for the main celebrations in Preston Park but by 3pm the park was already filling up.

Rumours had circulated on Twitter that the event would be cancelled but Sussex Police chief superintendent Graham Bartlett said although officers were monitoring events elsewhere they aimed to ensure it remained "business as usual".

By 2.30pm, there had been just four arrests. One was on suspicion of criminal damage, two for public order offences and one for drug offences.

By 5pm St John's Ambulance had treated 17 people for drink related problems.