They promised the Greatest Show On Earth. It was, without doubt, one of the most unusual.

The baking sun bore down on 90,000 people who turned Preston Park in Brighton into an anything-goes celebration for Pride 2003.

Towering 6ft 6in transsexual angels rubbed their tinsel wings against scantily-clad beefcakes sporting fluffy tiger tails.

Drag queens, glammed up to the nines, screeched and growled their way through camp classics on stage.

Handbag-throwing contests, all-male line dancing and martial arts demonstrations provided off-the-wall entertainment in the main arena.

Shops and stalls selling everything from cans of oxygen to key-ring vibrators delighted and bemused in equal measure.

At one stall gay party people were asked to mark their addresses with a pin on a map to identify the "gayest" street in Brighton.

St James's Street in Kemp Town was the clear winner by noon - but a lone marker jutted out from the heart of conservative Patcham.

"We've just put that there to scare them," admitted the stallholder.

Dance music boomed inside the music marquee throughout the afternoon.

One reveller, bright red and dripping with sweat, said: "I think I've pulled. But I'm not sure if she's a bird or a bloke."

The queues for the toilets, water stalls and bar were rarely less than ten people deep.

Police in uniform staffed a recruitment stall for the first time as part of a drive to bring minority groups into the force.

Representatives from Kent and Essex police also tried to lure new officers from their own stands.

Meanwhile, families and friends vied for a spot in the shade to enjoy picnics, chilled drinks and absorb the chaos around them.

The celebration began on Saturday at 11am in Madeira Drive with the event's biggest procession of floats and a crowd of 650 snaking through the city centre.

Mayor of Brighton and Hove Jeane Lepper got the pink parade on its way, to the cheers of the thousands who lined the streets.

As she cut the tape to begin the carnival, an aerobatic display plane buzzed in the blue sky overhead.

Councillor Lepper said: "Pride is definitely one of the highlights of the year in Brighton and Hove.

"People from all over the world are coming to the city for the event. It's what the city is all about."

An Elton John lookalike in a Bentley drew cheers as he purred past.

Drag queen Maisie Trollette sauntered through the throng waving from the seat of a convertible, a blizzard of fake snow poured down from a double-decker bus manned by regulars of the Queen's Arms and the Red Devil Pole Dancers pulled off an eye-popping display on their float.

The parade was followed by a growing crowd of people blowing whistles, carrying rainbow flags and wearing badges and costumes to show their support for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

Brighton Pavilion MP David Lepper watched as the parade left the city centre.

Referring to the downpour which put a dampener on Pride 2002, he said: "What a contrast to last year. The great thing about Pride is when it gets to Preston Park, it's a family event too."

Bars and cafs were decked out with rainbow flags, banners and ribbons to attract weary walkers for a pit stop.

Paul Charlton, of the Brighton Theatre Group, led dancers in a dazzling cancan as their Moulin Rouge float went past.

This year more floats than ever took part and 64 vehicles emblazoned in glorious dcor wound their way along the Old Steine to Preston Park.

Pride in Brighton and Hove has battled to maintain its free status, unlike events such as London's gay festival, which this year saw revellers paying £25 to get into Hyde Park.

For the first year the park did not feature a main stage with pop acts but an arena was created where the gay community were encouraged to take part in games.

Pride chairman David Harvey said: "We didn't get any grumbles about there being no main stage and people just went out and had a terrific time without causing any trouble.

"It has been the biggest and best event so far and something the city should be extremely proud of."

He said Thameslink and South Central trains had refused to put on extra trains although he estimated about 40 per cent of those at the festival came from outside Brighton and Hove.

He said: "We have had lots of anecdotal evidence it was a nightmare on the trains with overcrowding and cancellations, which is a real shame."

A police spokesman said: "It all seemed to go off very smoothly.

"People were enjoying themselves and having fun. We don't know how many arrests were made but there were no more than you would expect."

Pride spokeswoman Jaq Bayles said: "It was a resounding success and everyone had a good time."

As the sun set, the crowds made their way back into the city to continue their celebrations into the night.

Official figures suggest up to 90,000 visitors piled into Preston Park compared with 50,000 last year.

St John Ambulance volunteers treated about 150 casualties.

Division superintendent Terry Wing said: "This was an extermely low figure considering the huge numbers of people and the weather.

"Six people had to go to hospital. There were a lot of cases that were heat- related and included asthma attacks, heat exhaustion and blisters."