Pride before a falling out

Gay Pride festivals have been a popular feature of Brighton for several years, showing off much of the fun and flamboyance of the large homosexual community.

So it's sad that feuding between two rival groups is posing a threat to this year's summer festivities.

Brighton and Hove Council told the rivals to go away and discuss their differences rather than having to decide between two rival bids.

But they have failed to do so and time is now running out. There is no way in which Brighton can support two pride festivals and choosing one could cause problems between the council and many gays.

Brighton Pride and Pride 2000 will simply have to talk once again and sort out their problems.

If they don't, the town with the biggest gay population in England outside London won't have a festival in the foreseeable future - all because the organisers refuse to compromise.

Think and drive

Drink-drive figures issued by Sussex Police for the festive period provided disappointing reading.

The proportion of Sussex drivers over the limit rose by around a third to just under ten per cent of those stopped.

It could be partly because police targeted areas where they were mostly likely to find offenders, but the figures are still worrying.

After more than 30 years of breath tests and big campaigns against drink-driving, it's regrettable that a minority of motorists still think they can get away with being drunk behind the wheel.

Now they face a mandatory ban after being convicted, these drivers will think twice before drinking and driving again.

Tale of two toys

A promenader on the Palace Pier in Brighton called out the lifeboat after spotting what looked like a body in the sea.

But closer inspection by the crew revealed it to be nothing more than a 3ft cuddly toy shark floating alongside a stuffed furry dolphin.

The two toys will have pride of place in the new lifeboat station now being built down at Brighton Marina.

It's not often seafarers are delighted to see a shark, but they were this time.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.