Brighton and Hove city councillors have ruled out paying to turn the Royal Pavilion pink for the Pride gay festival.

The plans have sparked a rift between organisers of the gay and lesbian festival and the council, which says the scheme would cost too much.

Councillors say a staggering £35,000 is needed to alter the 192 sodium floodlights at the Royal Pavilion and have asked Pride to raise the cash themselves.

The council has also angered campaigners by refusing to fly the rainbow, or freedom flag, from public buildings during the August festivities.

The case for a pink Pavilion was put to the policy committee by Liberal Democrat group leader Paul Elgood on Wednesday night.

He said: "Imagine the impact and the national interest in seeing the Pavilion turned pink for Pride Week. Imagine also the statement of equality and tolerance such a move would make on behalf of residents of the city."

But council leader Ken Bodfish said the cost could not be justified.

The Labour group was also against flying the freedom flags, although Tory opposition leader Brian Oxley and Green convenor Keith Taylor said the ideas should not be dismissed out of hand.

After the meeting, Councillor Elgood said: "This is a complete insult. The council should be showing leadership. Having the rainbow flags flying and lighting up the Pavilion during Pride Week would be a symbol of equality in the city. This kind of attitude takes us back 20 years."

Pride organisers said the non-profit group, which serves the city's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, cannot afford to pay for the lighting.

Chairman David Harvey said: "The council could quite easily hang freedom flags from public buildings. It is the sort of thing that has been done in cities across the world, from New York to Paris."

Mr Bodfish said Pride could tie rainbow ribbons to lamp posts during the week.

Labour councillor Simon Burgess stressed the city's commitment to Pride and its welcome for the week in August.