More than 50 events are being held at 40 venues for the Winter Pride festival which has become an extension of the annual summer event.

The main gay Pride festival is held in Brighton and Hove in August with a flamboyant carnival procession through the city and a one-day festival in Preston Park.

The event has become one of the most successful free gay events in Europe and generates millions of pounds for the local economy.

Last year, the city council gave a £28,000 grant to the event which brought £5 million into Brighton and Hove. It also raises money for the city's gay charities and organisations and this year there is more than £30,000 on offer in grants to such groups.

The money was raised from bucket collections during the 2004 festival.

The summer festival has become so popular the Pride in Brighton and Hove committee, which organises the it, decided to expand the fund-raiser to an all-year-round event, including a Winter Pride.

This year's Winter Pride starts on Saturday and runs until Sunday, February 13.

The organisers are promising nine days of exciting events with lots of fund-raising frolics.

Last year there were two or three winter events but not a full programme.

David Harvey, chairman of the Pride in Brighton and Hove committee, said: "What started as a germ of an idea is now a fully-fledged winter festival. Nowhere else does a winter festival - we are the first."

All the Winter Pride events are run by Brighton businesses and the voluntary sector. There are workshops, community events and open days.

A first for the city, and probably the UK, is bisexual speed dating. There are also a women's- only sauna night, called Steamy Windows, at the Amsterdam Hotel in Brighton and comedy nights at the Komedia.

There is the chance for the men to be pampered at Molton Brown, with champagne and nibbles on arrival followed by three demonstrations, a makeover, spa treatment and hot towel shave.

For those looking for some drama, there is a murder mystery being hosted at the Thistle Hotel in Brighton. Also on offer is tenpin bowling or, for those with stamina, the chance to sit through 12 hours of classic films at the Duke of Yorks Cinema in Brighton.

A Wild Fruit special club night with the theme Little Brighton is on Sunday at Creation. Organisers ask clubbers to dress up as one of their favourite characters from the cult comedy Little Britain.

Most of the events are ticketed with the money raised going to Pride. Full details are available in the Winter Pride programme or by visiting the Pride web site at www.brightonpride.org