Pride 2003 will turn Brighton and Hove into an explosion of music and colour today as thousands of people take to the streets.

Brighton and Hove promotes itself as the place to be - brash, breezy, over-the-top and adventurous - and no event sums up that spirit more than Pride.

It is not only a celebration of pride for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community but it has become a symbol for the unity and tolerance of the wider community.

That spirit is what makes the city the envy of the rest of Britain - Brighton and Hove is cool and knows it is.

It is the nature of Brighton and Hove which allows a festival like Pride to become one of the city's main events on the social calendar and the reason why the majority of residents enjoy living here.

Pride will not only epitomise the spirit of the city but the lure of such a fun day out will draw tens of thousands of people into the city - helping to raise its profile nationally and boost the economy. It is sure to set tills ringing as people spend their so-called pink pounds.

The growing popularity of Pride has turned it into a major attraction for people from all over the country and overseas.

Every year things get larger and larger, with today's procession through the streets promising to be the biggest yet, featuring 43 imaginative floats followed by a tableaux of 650 people on foot.

This year's theme is The Greatest Show on Earth and organisers have pulled out all the stops to make sure the event lives up to its billing.

Everyone in Brighton and Hove should take pride in Pride.